Captain Jon-Jon Smuts has rued a poor performance in the field and an inability to compile a significant partnership with the bat, as the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants slipped to a 31-run defeat by the Paarl Rocks in the Mzansi Super League.

The Rocks struck 166-7 before limiting the Giants to 135 all out at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. The result left the former in first position in the 2019 MSL’s six-team standings, and the latter second.

‘I thought the wicket stayed well throughout the game. We didn’t field well and we lacked a big partnership. You are always confident because you have done that in the past, but not this time. Things didn’t go our way with the bat, I thought we found the fielders too often,’ said Smuts.

Rocks all-rounder Ferisco Adams was named Player of the Match. Recalled to the XI, Adams returned with a brisk cameo with the bat and two key wickets.

‘Adams has been brilliant. Ferisco is a very good T20 player. We backed him and he played very well,’ added triumphant captain Faf du Plessis.

Spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin also took two wickets each. Fortuin bowled with the new ball and dismissed England opening batsman Jason Roy for a first-ball duck.

‘Shamsi and Fortuin have been brilliant for us. Fortuin has taken wickets for us whenever he has bowled well in the powerplay. He has been very very good,’ concluded Du Plessis.

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