Chasing a massive target of 204, Paarl Rocks put on a gallant performance. Cameron Delport anchored the run-chase with a sublime 73. All batsmen reached double figures and made notable contributions. When it came down to the last ball, Andrew Birch held his nerve and clinched victory for Tshwane Spartans with a stellar yorker.
Under immense pressure, Andrew Birch nails the yorker. Mangaliso Mosehle cannot quite get underneath the fuller one. Paarl fall agonisingly short by a solitary run. What a game of cricket!
Back to back boundaries followed by a Six! Rory Kleinveldt's predictable lengths are getting hammered by Mangaliso Mosehle. Paarl are back into the contest. They require 13 runs from the last over.
Just 8 runs from the 18th over! Frylinck hits the block hole on a regular basis and denies any chance for the Paarl batsmen to get underneath the ball. They need 30 runs from the last two overs.
Although the over begins promisingly for Rory Kleinveldt, he errs by delivering a wide off the last ball and sees the extra ball disappear for a boundary.
Six and out! After smashing a six off the first ball, Bravo pays the price for being a bit too greedy. The Caribbean all-rounder tries to charge down the track. But Jeevan Mendis is up to it and floats the ball away from him. Bravo's miscued aerial chip ends in Sipamla's hands.
Paarl need 63 runs from the last five overs. All eyes are on Dwayne Bravo. Can he follow up his splendid bowling spell with a trademark finisher's effort in the batting department?
Sipamla castles Delport! The young pacer nails a pin-point yorker and cuts short Cameron's brilliant knock. The left-hander walks back for a well-made 43-ball 73.
Switch-hit for six! Delport becomes a right-hander at the last instant and nonchalantly smashes a googly for a flat six. Great thinking from the left-hander to counter the leg-spinner's variation.
Cameron Delport creates pace and dispatches Robbie Frylinck for a colossal straight six. Batting on 65 off just 37 balls, the southpaw is looking intent on turning his effort into a match-winning one.
Mendis strikes! The Sri Lankan leg-spinner tosses the ball and entices a slog-sweep from Vaughn van Jaarsveld. But the left-hander only manages to find the top-edge. The skier lands in the safe gloves of wicket-keeper Gihahn Cloete.
At the half-way mark, Paarl are on track. With eight wickets left at their disposal, the hosts will be backing themselves to hunt down the remaining 104 runs from the last ten overs.
Delport goes big! Jeevan Mendis' introduction does not work that well for the Spartans. With the ball turning into him, the seasoned left-hander launches the leg-spinner into the stands.
van Jaarsveld gets a life! While attempting to pull Lutho Sipamla, the left-hander does not bother to keep it down. Despite running in quickly, Andrew Birch drops a chance deep square leg.
Davids falls! After coming into the attack, Robbie Frylinck does not take too long to make an impact. The medium pacer's lack of pace prevents Henry Davids from finding his timing.
Henry Davids gets into the groove with back to back boundaries off Rory Kleinveldt. The Paarl skipper is keen on using the depth of his crease to great effect.
Klinger departs! The Australian batsman will be ruing his luck for getting out on a full toss. A nothing delivery but the slower variation helps in finding the leading edge. Theunis de Bruyn takes a simple catch at mid-on. Perhaps, the right-hander pays the price for closing his bat face too early.
A tidy over from Rory Kleinveldt. Just six runs from it. All Tshwane Spartans need to do is to string together such overs. The pressure will then build automatically on the chasing team.
Shot from Klinger! Despite being on the move, he is balanced enough to pierce the gap between backward point and point. The delectable boundary should give him immense confidence in such a stiff run-chase.
A boundary each for Delport and Klinger to set the ball rolling. After beginning with a no-ball, Sipamla does not hit the desired lengths for this true surface.
Explosive half-centuries from the opening duo of Theunis de Bruyn and Gihahn Cloete set the tone for the Spartans' surge. AB de Villiers injected further energy by hammering a rapid cameo. Although they looked good for 220 at one stage, Tshwane Spartans will still be reasonably pleased with their total. What can Paarl Rocks come up with, in response? Stay tuned for the run-chase.
Just five runs from the final over! Dwayne Bravo shows his experience with a stunning last over. However, the Spartans will still be the happier of the two teams at the moment. They've got runs on the board.
Paterson does not get his hat-trick. But he does a sterling job in the penultimate over. Just three singles from what should be the best over of the innings.
Dane Paterson on a hat-trick! After removing Dean Elgar, the pacer gets the key scalp of the well-set of Gihahn Cloete. The opener has to depart after a well-made 49-ball 80.
450th T20 wicket for Dwayne Bravo! The canny seamer defeats yet another opponent with a slower ball. Rilee Rossouw has no answer to the magician's wiles.
Bravo gets ABD! The former South African skipper attempts his trademark sweep against the Caribbean stalwart. But he does not pick the slower variation and instead picks out deep square-leg. A collective groan from the crowd as de Villiers walks back.
With the last five overs set to begin, how far can the Spartans go? Remember, this is a batting beauty. They would want much more than 200. If de Villiers stays for some more time, even 230 is not out of question.
Fifty for Gihahn Cloete! A well-compiled half-century from 35 balls. This is turning into a double-barrelled attack on Paarl even as the death overs loom large.
ABD sweeps and reverse-sweeps a pace bowler! The dynamic right-hander is making a mockery of Dane Paterson's supposed extra pace. Goes down on one knee and turns a difficult shot into child's play. After hitting a sweep six, he does a 180 degree turnaround and reverse-sweeps for a boundary.
Bravo gets the breakthrough! After unfurling a reverse ramp to outwit the seasoned all-rounder, Theunis de Bruyn tries to be too cheeky once more. But this time around, he spoons a simple catch to Henry Davids.
Just six runs from the sixth over. Much needed respite for Paarl Rocks after a costly start. At the end of the Power Play, the Spartans are firmly on top as both openers are going strong.
Theunis de Bruyn in punishing mood! The right-hander has already smashed eight boundaries from just 21 balls. This is exceptional batting. Fifty up for the Spartans in the fifth over.
Three boundaries in the over! Kerwin Mungroo's initiation does not go according to plan. Erring in line by just a fraction, these two Spartans batsmen are too good to miss out.
Dwayne Bravo is introduced into the attack and Theunis de Bruyn greets him with a couple of delightful straight boundaries. Not surprisingly, the experienced all-rounder responds by turning to his slower delivery.
After conceding a boundary off the first ball, Dane Paterson bounces back with a slew of tight deliveries. The right-arm pacer is able to get a hint of purchase from the pitch.
