Delport pummels NMB Giants into submission
Paarl side secure final playoff spot, and will now take on Jozi Stars
The Nelson Mandela Bay Giants crashed out of the Mzansi Super League after losing their final round-robin game by six wickets to Paarl Rocks at Boland Park on Wednesday.
The defeat handed the Paarl Rocks the final playoff spot and they will face the Jozi Stars in the eliminator match at the Wanderers on Friday night to determine who will face the Cape Town Blitz in Sunday’s final at Newlands.
After a good start to the tournament, the Giants’ form waned towards the back end of the pool stage and they were comprehensively outplayed by the Rocks on Wednesday.
Chasing 130 to win and targeting a victory inside 16 overs in order to secure a bonus point, the Paarl Rocks started conservatively.
Henry Davids and Cameron Delport opened the batting and put on 21 before the former holed out to a wide mid-off to grant Chris Morris the breakthrough wicket.
Earlier the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants stuttered to 129/8 in their 22 overs. Only Jason Roy (22 off 16 balls) and Chris Morris (27* off 10 balls) managed impressive strike-rates.
Rudi Second top-scored with a patient 37 off 41 balls, but he couldn’t provide the acceleration required at the death.
The Rocks bowled well, led by Dwayne Bravo (3/22) and Tabraiz Shamsi, who went for just 15 from his four and bagged the wicket of Ben Duckett.
The Paarl franchise threatened to lose their way in the chase as Faf du Plessis was caught at deep extra cover off Aaron Phangiso’s bowling after struggling to six from 12 balls.
At 41/2 it could so easily have been 41/3 as Phangiso dropped Delport the ball after Du Plessis’ departure.
Phangiso and skipper Jon-Jon Smuts put the strangle on the Rocks batsmen with their contrasting styles of slow bowling. Phangiso bowled slower, looking for turn, while Smuts fired the bulk of his deliveries in flat.
Delport changed the flow of the match in the 11th over as he took on Smuts, taking a few risks in hitting two sixes and a four via a dropped chance on the fence.
The over went for 20 and boosted the Rocks to 72/2 and a position of relative comfort.
Dyllan Matthews started his spell with a big no-ball before twice being switch-hit by Delport to bring up the allrounder’s fifty.
Delport continued to attack, with Aiden Markram playing a support role, and though his innings was far from chanceless he put the Rocks in position to claim the bonus point win they needed to seal third position and the final Mzansi Super League playoff spot.
Sisanda Magala (2/15) eventually got the better of Delport, bowling him with a cutter, but his 84 had done enough to win the game for the Rocks, if not secure the all-important bonus point.
Magala added the wicket of Bravo, who was looking to end matters.
The Rocks needed nine runs off the 16th over to secure a bonus point victory.
David Wiese came in and smashed a six off the first ball of the over to take all the pressure off the Rocks.
After a wide from Phangiso, Wiese won it with a top-edged slog that fell safe and allowed the Rocks to win with 28 balls to spare. Victory was secured.
Delport changed the flow of the match in the 11th over