MSL 2019 Qualifier, Nelson Mandela Bay Giants vs Tshwane Spartans at Port Elizabeth: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

Unlike other franchise-based T20 leagues across the world, the Playoffs of the Mzansi Super League features just two matches. Nelson Mandela Bay Giants will host Tshwane Spartans at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth in the Qualifier; the winner will meet the Paarl Rocks in the final at Boland Park, Paarl.

The league phase ended somewhat anticlimactically, with 4 of the last 6 matches getting abandoned without a ball bowled. These included 2 matches for both the Spartans and Durban Heat: in the end, the former qualified with a 1-point lead over the latter. Both teams featured in only 5 decisive matches out of a total of 10.

Amidst all this, the Spartans won their first 3 matches with a result. Two of these were against the Rocks, who eventually finished at the top of the points table. They also beat Jozi Stars comfortably, but lost twice, to Cape Town Blitz and the Bay Giants.

While AB de Villiers has risen to the challenge multiple times throughout the tournament, he has found support from Heinrich Klaasen and the unheralded Pete van Biljon. In Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi, Tom Curran, and Roelof van der Merwe they probably have the most potent attack as well.

The Bay Giants attack, on the other hand, is led by Imran Tahir, who continues to remain a threat. Tahir will be backed by Chris Morris and Junior Dala. As for batsmen, while JJ Smuts and Ben Dunk have been impressive, Marco Marais (strike rate 173) may emerge as the most dangerous of them all.

They have had a better tournament as well (though they had more matches to play: 9). They won 6 and lost 3 of these, but unlike the Spartans, they have not quite been giant killers: they have lost both their matches to the Rocks.

However, the Bay Giants have definitely had the better of the contests against the Spartans. Rain had saved the Spartans in the first match at Centurion (they were 33/4); and at Port Elizabeth, Ben Dunk (99* in 54) helped them chase down 189 with ease.

All in all, they will be favourites in the Qualifier.

Key players

Imran Tahir (Nelson Mandela Bay Giants): He may be approaching 41, but Tahir, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, has still a trick or two up his sleeve.

AB de Villiers (Tshwane Spartans): de Villiers’ aggregate (247 runs), strike rate (153), and average (49.40) are the highest for the Spartans this time; he has also hit most fours (19) and most sixes (10). That tells the story.

Likely XIs

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants: Ben Dunk (wk), Matthew Breetzke, JJ Smuts (c), Heino Kuhn, Ryan ten Doeschate, Marco Marais, Chris Morris, Nandre Burger, Akhona Mnyaka, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Imran Tahir.

Tshwane Spartans: Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, AB de Villiers, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Pite van Biljon, Tom Curran, Roelof van der Merwe, Corbin Bosch, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi, Waqar Salamkheli.

Prediction

The Bay Giants to win and meet Paarl Rocks in the final.