The Cape Town Blitz won their fourth consecutive Mzansi T20 clash as they crushed the Jozi Stars by 62 runs at the Wanderers.
It was another all-round dominant performance by the Cape Town side.
The Cape Town Blitz flew in the power play, scoring 70 in the first six overs. De Kock led the assault and raced to 74 off 35 balls (five sixes and nine fours, S/R of 205.6). The Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman finally found the form he was craving for as he elevated the visitors to 99-1 after nine overs.
Janneman Malan followed suit, smashing his second consecutive half-century of the tournament with breath-taking sixes, clearing not only the boundary but the stands with ease. He was particularly impressive against Kagiso Rabada. The 22-year-old hit the Proteas seamer for two fours and two sixes as he finished on 66 off 43 balls (four fours, four sixes at a S/R of 153.48).
A cameo 25 off 30 balls (two fours and a six) from Farhaan Behardien was enough to help the Blitz past 166 before he became Rabada’s only victim.
Olivier was key to pulling the Jozi Stars back into the contest, dismissing De Kock in the 10th over, and Janneman Malan and Andile Phehlukwayo in the 18th over.
With their eyes on a 200-run total, the Blitz managed to creep to 198-5 despite the quick flurry of wickets.
The Blitz backed up their powerful bowling performance with the perfect start as Anirch Nortje (3-30) and Dale Steyn (2-23) combined to knock over Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen, both for ducks.
Ryan Rickelton was next to go, Steyn using his experience to bait the youngster into a pull shot, and he obliged finding Nortje at fine leg.
Wickets continued to tumble. Andile Phehlukwayo (2-12) trapped Pite von Biljon lbw for 23 and then Nortje dismissed the Stars skipper Dane Villas for 29.
Phehlukwayo reduced the Stars to 95-6 as the hosts continued to tumble.
Nortje continued to light up the MSL stage. He took his third when he dismissed Rabada (18 off 11 balls, two fours and a six). George Linde (3-25) struck in the following over when he removed Daniel Christian for 24, followed by setting up two stumpings to skittle the visitors for 136.
The Blitz claimed a bonus-point win that sees them dominate at the top of the log.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
