2019 Mzansi Super League
3-16 December review
The Paarl Rocks have won the 2019 edition of the Mzansi Super League (MSL), having comfortably defeated the Tshwane Spartans in the final on Monday 16 December at Boland Park.
The Rocks won the toss and elected to field first, restricting the Spartans to just 147/6 in their 20 overs. The Tshwane team’s top scorer was AB de Villiers (51 off 37), but a strong all-round bowling performance from the hosts – led by 2/24 from Isuru Udana – ensured they had a very ‘gettable’ target to aim for.
And the Western Cape duly chased down the total, needing just 14.2 overs to reach 148/2 and claim victory by a comfortable margin of eight wickets, with more than five overs to spare. Henry Davids led the charge for the Rocks, scoring an unbeaten 77 off 44 balls.
The Spartans had earlier in the long weekend secured their place in the final by defeating the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants in the Eliminator (semifinal) on Friday 13 December. The Tshwane team set a target of 166/4, which proved too steep for the Eastern Cape hosts, as they managed only 144/8 in their 20 overs.
Despite missing out on the final, the Giants still provided the MSL’s two statistics leaders for the 2019 tournament: Australian Ben Dunk topped the ‘runs scored’ chart with 380 at an average of 54.28 average and 149.01 strike rate, while South African veteran Imran Tahir took the most wickets: 16 at a 13.5 average and impressive 5.68 economy.
“Credit to the boys, we’ve put together a great T20 tournament and winning in front of our fans here in Paarl is a great way to cap it all off,” said Rocks captain Faf du Plessis, who then revealed that the Proteas are working at getting his friend AB de Villiers back in the national team set-up for T20Is.
The T20 World Cup is not too far away and there isn't a long list of T20 internationals over the season. Those conversations have taken place and they will take place before the next T20 international series starts,” added the South African skipper.
Mzansi Super League
Results, 13-16 December
Eliminator (semifinal)
Friday 13 December
Tshwane Spartans (166/4) beat Nelson Mandela Bay Giants (144/8) by 22 runs
Final
Monday 16 December
Paarl Rocks (148/2) beat Tshwane Spartans (147/6) by 8 wickets
Statistics
Most runs
Ben Dunk (Nelson Mandela Bay Giants) – 380 runs at 54.28 average & 149.01 strike rate
Most wickets
Imran Tahir (Nelson Mandela Bay Giants) – 16 wickets at 13.5 average & 5.68 economy
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