The Durban Heat beat the Cape Town Blitz by seven wickets in Thursday’s Mzansi Super League fixture at Newlands.

The victory marked the first of the 2019 MSL for the Heat, who remained in fifth position in the six-team standings, regardless. The Blitz, meanwhile, stayed in fourth place.

Pursuing a 182-run target, the Durban franchise triumphed with four deliveries to spare on the back of an unbeaten half-century from captain Dane Vilas.

Vilas struck 75 not out, which spanned 52 balls and featured six fours and three sixes. This is the highest score of his decade-long T20 career, surpassing the 71 not out struck for Western Province several years ago.

The veteran Vilas was well supported by middle-order batsman Wihan Lubbe on Thursday. Lubbe gathered 49, complementing the 83 collected against the same opposition in Durban earlier in the tournament.

Earlier, the Blitz climbed to a final total of 181-5, after opener Janneman Malan hit 75 and debutant David Bedingham 44.

The Paarl Rocks triumphed over the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants in Wednesday’s fixture at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth. The Tshwane Spartans will host the Rocks at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday. The Rocks are currently at the top of the table, while the Jozi Stars have all but been ruled out of contention for a second MSL title. They won the inaugural MSL in 2018, after beating the Blitz in the final.

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