Captain Jon-Jon Smuts has quietened suggestion pressure will soon toll on the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants’ 2019 Mzansi Super League campaign.

The Giants currently occupy first position in the tournament’s six-team standings – and will play the Cape Town Blitz at Newlands on Friday.

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They successfully pursued hefty 186- and 189-run targets to beat the Blitz and Tshwane Spartans recently. Smuts and middle-order batsman starred in the former. Australian batsman Ben Dunk and Marais shone in the latter.

‘I don’t think we’ve been feeling any pressure to be honest. I thought we played pretty well in Durban when we lost on Saturday. I just think the Heat were better than us,’ said Smuts.

‘Against the Spartans we had a bit of luck go our way and luckily we made use of it. We’ve had two record run chases at St George’s Park for the season already and we’ll take that.

‘It was a magnificent chase – Dunk and Marco’s partnership was unbelievable at the end, so it was a fine win for us.’

The Giants are among five franchises in contention for this year’s title. The Jozi Stars are the reigning champions, after beating the Blitz in last year’s final. They have since suffered seven successive defeats and a washout, though.

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