CAPE TOWN – If anyone is going to stop the Cape Town Blitz in the Mzansi Super League, they are going to have a find a way to stop Quinton de Kock.
The Proteas opener toyed with the Paarl Rocks on Friday evening as the Blitz romped to a six-wicket bonus-point victory at Newlands.
De Kock scored, nay blasted, smashed and boomed an innings of 93 from 47 balls, with 12 fours and three sixes.
In a troublesome week for the MSL T20, with questions floating around about the league’s “global appeal”, watching De Kock in such fine form should attract any cricket-lover around the world.
The fact that he was visibly disappointed when caught on the long-off boundary just seven runs short of a second MSL T20 century showed how much emphasis international players such as De Kock are placing on doing well in this tournament.
It certainly was an innings that the Blitz desperately wanted.
After suffering a midweek defeat and having just watched Jozi Stars steal a victory from the jaws of defeat earlier in the day, the Blitz needed a win to ensure they went into Sunday’s final league match against the Durban Heat (3.30pm start) without the pressure of it being a “must-win”.
The victory has ensured that they are the first team to book a place in the Mzansi Super League playoffs.
The Rocks’ fate, however, is now out of their hands.
The “noisy neighbours” have two games left, and will need to win both and hope results from other matches go their way after the Blitz’ bowling restricted them to just 144/9.
IT'S ALL OVER! Victory by 6 wickets!
What a performance! A collective effort with the ball and an outstanding innings by Quinton de Kock sees us bag a bonus point win!
Q de Kock - 93
D Steyn - 2/22
N Burger - 2/26
M Siboto - 2/27 #CTBlitz⚡️⚡️⚡️ #BlitzBrigade #MSLT20 #CTBvPR pic.twitter.com/WOFTZehRFh
— Cape Town Blitz (@CT_Blitz) December 7, 2018
The visitors only managed to get that far due to Proteas captain Faf du Plessis’ 61 off 39 balls, but the skipper received precious little support from his fellow batsmen.
All the Blitz seamers did well on the night, with Nandré Burger, Dale Steyn and Malusi Siboto all picking two wickets apiece.
Your Powerade Man of the Match for tonight. Take a bow, Quinton de Kock! 👏👏 #MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/3W48zQroS2
— Mzansi Super League 🔥 🇿🇦 🏏 (@MSL_T20) December 7, 2018
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