Captain Heinrich Klaasen found consolation in batsman Pite van Biljon’s performance, as the Tshwane Spartans slipped to a 15-run defeat to the Cape Town Blitz in Sunday’s Mzansi Super League fixture at Newlands.

The Blitz reached a final total of 157/5 on the back of newbie David Bedingham’s half-century. Bedingham debuted in the tournament earlier this week – and hit 53 from 40 on Sunday.

The Spartans were unable to reach a 158-run target, despite Van Biljon’s 62 from 42, which featured four fours and a trio of sixes.

Van Biljon batted well against an opposition bowling attack lined with international experience in Proteas pair Anrich Nortje and Dale Steyn – and Pakistan seamer Wahab Riaz.

That Pite knock got us to a close the score. He’s in very good nick and he’s training hard as well. It was always going to be difficult after losing three quick wickets. Kudos to them, they bowled well. Dale bowled extremely well. He’s a match-winner,’ said Klaasen.

Steyn was named Player of the Match. He completed figures of 3-10 in four overs. His haul included the key dismissals of opener Dean Elgar and former Proteas captain AB de Villiers.

The result pushed the Blitz to fourth in the 2019 tournament’s six-team standings, while the Spartans remained third.

Photo: BackPagePix