Spartans have the edge in MSL final
● Paarl is the place to be tomorrow when the Rocks host their first Mzansi Super League final against the Tshwane Spartans.
However, history will be against the hosts because the team that has finished top of the log has yet to win the tournament. The Mzansi Super League is in only its second season, but last year’s final was hosted by, and lost by Cape Town Blitz.
Blitz were well beaten by the Jozi Stars, who this season had to endure the ignominy of not winning a single game.
The Tshwane Spartans may not have shown the Jozi Stars’ big hitting and bowling accuracy from last year, but they’ve manoeuvred their way into the final.
It was a feat by the Spartans to get to the final considering that five of their 10 league matches were washed out.
They won three out of the other five but they’re in the final and that’s all that counts right now.
However, they’ve beaten the Paarl Rocks twice and quite convincingly.
In the first game, on November 17, Dean Elgar’s unbeaten 60-ball 88 helped hunt down 185 with five balls to spare. Twelve days later the Spartans cakewalked a chase of 126 with five overs in the bank. Those are worrying signs for the Rocks who have been able to add the consistency that was missing from their exciting cricket of last year.
The Rocks have been well led by Proteas Test captain Faf du Plessis and coaches Adrian
It was a feat by the Spartans to get to the final considering five of 10 matches were washed out
Birrell and Geoff Toyana.
The Heinrich Klaasen-led and Mark Boucher-coached Spartans are a formidable side that has allowed the strength of the Titans to flow into the Spartans unit.
Consistent they haven’t been, but they had a timely big performance on Friday to kick the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants out of their own play-off party.
Former Proteas all-rounder David Wiese was at the heart of Friday’s 22-run win at St
George’s Park with an unbeaten 23-ball 31 and 3/30 from his miserly four-over allotment.
Wiese will have a crucial role to play in the final, especially if the Spartans’ top order doesn’t rock up. He was happy with his match-changing performance.
“It’s always pleasing coming into a team and performing, especially when you’re an overseas signing. You want to go in and make a good impression,” Wiese said.
The Rocks are sweating on the fitness of Dwaine Pretorius, but Birrell hoped he would be ready for the game.
“Dwaine showed earlier in the tournament the value he adds with both the bat and ball. His recovery went well and I’m optimistic he will be available for Monday’s big game,” Birrell said.