Mzansi Super League 2019, Cape Town Blitz vs Nelson Mandela Bay Giants: 3 in-form players to watch out for
Match No. 25 of the Mzansi Super League 2019 will witness the Cape Town Blitz take on the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa.
Both the sides come into the fixture on the back of wins in their previous matches. The Cape Town Blitz defeated the Tshwane Spartans on their home ground. Nelson Mandela Bay Giants also defeated the same opposition in their last match in a great chase in Port Elizabeth.
Currently, the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants sit on the second spot in the Mzansi Super League 2019 standings with 23 points from eight matches whereas the Cape Town Blitz occupy the fifth spot with 17 points from the same number of matches.
A win for the Bay Giants will propel them to the top spot of the standings leapfrogging above the Paarl Rocks and open up a lead. The Blitz will go into a playoffs spot if they manage to get the win over the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants.
Nelson Mandela Bay Giants have built a strong, well-balanced squad with Ben Dunk and JJ Smuts leading the batting department. Imran Tahir, Junior Dala and Chris Morris make up a competitive bowling unit that can trouble any batting lineup on their day.
Cape Town Blitz are currently leading the charts for most runs scored and most wickets taken in the league with Janneman Malan and Dale Steyn performing to their best form so far. They will bank on their star performers to get the side a crucial win to keep them in the hunt for the playoffs of the Mzansi Super League 2019.
We take a look at three in-form players whose showing on the day could play a huge role in determining the result of the match.
#3 Dale Steyn - Cape Town Blitz
Cape Town Blitz's strike bowler Dale Steyn has consistently led the wickets tally and has taken a total of 15 wickets in eight matches of the MSL 2019 season.
Steyn uses his raw pace with the favourable pitches in his home country and has troubled the opposition batsmen with his ability to change the pace as well when the situation demands. He has picked 11 wickets in his last five matches and had figures of 4-0-10-3 in their win over the Tshwane Spartans.
The Blitz will hope that Steyn continues to deliver with the ball for them in his spell of four overs which will be crucial for them to control the Bay Giants.
#2 Ben Dunk - Nelson Mandela Bay Giants
Australian hard-hitting opening wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Dunk has been the most potent weapon of the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants' lineup as they have soared continuously in the top spots of the MSL 2019 standings.
Dunk has scored a total of 278 runs in eight matches, scoring his knocks at a rate of 154.44 setting up the innings for the Bay Giants at the top. He has been in fine form for the past three matches for the side despite them losing two of those encounters.
The Aussie left-hander scored a stunning knock of 99 runs not out as the Bay Giants chased down a then MSL record target of 189 runs with Dunk leading the charge for the team. He has scored over 30+ runs in his past three innings and will be aiming to keep it going consistently as the Bay Giants aim to regain their top spot on the MSL 2019 standings.
#1 Janneman Malan - Cape Town Blitz
Cape Town Blitz opener Janneman Malan has been the most in-form batsman of the Mzansi Super League 2019 having scored a total of 297 runs in eight matches so far.
Malan has consistently kept the scores coming with the bat for the Cape Town Blitz getting the team off to good totals. He had started off the MSL 2019 season with a superb knock of 99 and after a run of three innings with moderate scores, found his mojo again with the bat. Since then, he got good scores in three of the last four matches for the Cape Town Blitz as they have kept going to secure their spot in the playoffs.
Malan will aim to keep the team's hope alive for a playoffs spot as he is on his way to become the first batsman to score 300+ runs in the season. His innings will be vital for the Blitz to get themselves in a position to win the match against the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants.