Where the Blitz got it horribly wrong
SLOW WAS A NO GO
Evan Flint and his groundstaff have been the best in the country for the last couple of years – a fact that has been acknowledged by CSA – in regards to the pitches they have prepared for showpiece matches. The inaugural Mzansi T20 final was surely an occasion to behold, but unfortunately the surface served up was not conducive to entertaining cricket. While every team wants to ensure home ground advantage counts for something, it is clear that the Blitz were keen to play on a slower surface to not only neutralise the likes of Kagiso Rabada, but to also hinder the fire-power batsmen such as Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen and Dan Christian possess. Unfortunately the ploy backfired massively.
MUDDLING MIDDLE-ORDER
Throughout the Mzansi Super League, the Blitz’ middle-order had been the Achilles heel of the team. Only Pakistan internationals Mohammed Nawaz and Asif Ali contributed half-centuries at the beginning stages. From there on it went downhill with captain Farhaan Behardien struggling throughout.
EVEN SUPERMAN FAILS SOMETIMES
Quinton de Kock is a special talent, and has not only single-handedly won matches for the Blitz but the Proteas at international level as well. But to expect him to perform miracles in virtually every game is near impossible, especially in a format as variable as T20. It was almost as if the Newlands crowd knew that their team’s chances in the final had nosedived when De Kock was caught early on. “I knew that I was one of the main leaders in the batting department, but it was just unfortunate that the other batsmen didn’t come to the party. The boys tried their heart out, but it didn’t go their way,” De Kock conceded after the game.
MONEY WASTED
Dawid Malan arrived in Cape Town as the Blitz’ marquee signing, but unfortunately it was a bitter homecoming for the former Paarl Boys High pupil. Malan failed to get find his rhythm in the competition. Malan’s was visibly dejected when he was dismissed in the final just when he had just seemingly found some form.
BMT
Blitz coach Ashwell Prince said defiantly after his team’s final round-robin defeat that his players will step up “in games that matter”. Unfortunately in the game that mattered most, they were nowhere to be found. The Blitz have some senior international players in their line-up, but they also floundered under the pressure of playing in a much-hyped final in front of an expectant home crowd. Their “BMT” – better known as big-match temperament – was severely lacking, which was highlighted in no better fashion when Blitz captain Behardien and his Proteas teammate Andile Phehlukwayo were involved in a comical run out.
OH ANRICH!
Although the Blitz found a way to top the log which earned them a home final, they were simply not the same team once Anrich Nortje was consigned to the sidelines with an ankle injury. The Blitz needed his outright pace and hostility, and especially in the final when they were defending a low score. Dale Steyn cranked up the pace gun on Sunday in the hope of pulling off a miracle, and can you imagine if he had Nortje steaming in from the other in support. It would certainly have made for fascinating viewing.