Cape Town Blitz edge Jozi Stars
MZANSI: OPENER MALAN FALLS ONE SHORT OF CENTURY
Bowlers were put through the mill in the opening match of the Mzansi Super League at the Wanderers last night, but Sisanda Magala and Dale Steyn held their nerve as they bowled the Cape Town Blitz to a 15-run win over the Jozi Stars.
Needing to mount a record run-chase to reach 214 for victory, Reeza Hendricks put the Jozi Stars on course with a belligerent 80 off 53 balls. With Temba Bavuma providing great support as he lashed 38 off 15 deliveries, and Rassie van der Dussen calmly adding 31 off 21 balls, the Jozi Stars had reached 153/2 after 14 overs, needing 61 off 36 deliveries.
But Magala then conceded just seven runs in the 15th over and Steyn, who had earlier removed Chris Gayle for 17, followed up by dismissing Van der Dussen, Magala taking a catch at point.
Hendricks then bashed three fours off Magala’s next over, meaning the Jozi Stars needed 34 off the last three overs to win. But Daniel Christian was battling to get going and Steyn then dismissed Hendricks with his penultimate delivery, Magala hanging on to an even tougher steepler in the covers, the great paceman finishing with three for 25.
Magala then added the finishing touches with the ball, conceding just three runs in the penultimate over and getting the wicket of Ryan Rickelton (1).
The Cape Town Blitz had earlier been sent in to bat and feasted on some wayward bowling up front as openers Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock (35 off 21) put on 72 off just 42 deliveries.
Moeen Ali (25 off 17), Liam Livingstone (21 off 10) and George Linde (24* off 13) all kept the momentum going, but they were very much the supporting cast to Malan. He bashed 99 not out off 58 balls as he faced the last ball of the innings with the Cape Town Blitz on 213/3.
But the crafty Christian (4-028-1), the best of the Jozi Stars bowlers, went for the high-risk option of a bouncer. It was exceptionally well-directed, Malan missed his attempted hook and it ended up being a dot ball, leaving the 23-year-old stranded one short of his maiden MSL century.