Batsman Marco Marais recounted a late salvo alongside all-rounder Chris Morris, as the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants beat the Cape Town Blitz by five wickets in Wednesday’s Mzansi Super League fixture at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.

The result had the Giants replace the Blitz at the top of the 2019 tournament’s six-team standings. The hosts surpassed a testing 186-run target with four deliveries to spare, with Marais and Morris the recipients of an unbroken 37-run alliance from just 18 balls.

Marais finished with 40 not out from 20 to Morris’ 19 from nine. The pair ensured the half-century struck by captain Jon-Jon Smuts did not go in vain.

‘It’s good to contribute towards the team, especially in a game like this. I’m just lost for words. I am glad it came off when it mattered the most. Chris is lovely to bat with, we have a good laugh, and he just said I must watch the ball – something that simple can help so much at times,’ said Marais.

Defeated captain Quinton de Kock lamented an inadequate final total of 186-9 after winning the toss and opting to bat first. The Blitz’s final score was particularly disappointing after De Kock and fellow opener Janneman Malan had added 72 inside the opening seven overs.

‘I think we did all right with the bat, but were just a couple of runs short in the end. Malan and I batted all right. When you get 180-odd, you always think it’s a winning score, but conditions changed, a bit of dew came around, and it was skidding on and they batted really well,’ he concluded.

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