Hope you enjoyed the live coverage from Sportskeeda. Thanks for joining us. Do tune in on Saturday for the second match between Jozi Stars and Nelson Mandela Bay Giants.
This was a game to remember for the Newlands faithful. The home team emerged victorious comfortably. But the audience managed to saw a splendid half-century from AB de Villiers as well. Perhaps, they might have wanted a closer contest. But you've got to say the crowd earned their money's worth in the opening game of the 2018 Mzansi Super League.
Overcoming a shaky start with the bat, Cape Town Blitz managed to register a strong total. Chasing 181, Tshwane Spartans began slowly and piled pressure on themselves. AB de Villiers threatened to run away with the game. But Ferisco Adams helped the hosts dismiss the danger man. Eventually, a disciplined bowling effort saw Cape Town bundle the Spartans out for a paltry total and cruise to a clinical victory.
Cape Town Blitz win by 49 runs. Quite fittingly, Ferisco Adams seals victory with a sharp return catch. His double wicket over had earlier turned the game on its head.
To sum up the chasm between the two teams, Tshwane Spartans require an impossible 53 runs off the last over. This has been a forgettable debut for the franchise.
The final rites are being administered here. Cape Town Blitz are running rampant against an under-cooked Spartans outfit. Jeevan Mendis is the latest casualty. Anrich Nortje gets his first wicket.
A solitary run and a run-out from the 18th over. After being outclassed in the death overs battle against Ferisco Adams, von Berg is run out off the last ball.
Rossouw is castled! Cape Town are now all over the Spartans. Massive wickets off consecutive balls for Ferisco Adams. After being hammered for three sixes, this has been a stunning turnaround from the medium pacer.
AB de Villiers falls! Stunning catch from Nortje under immense pressure. The stalwart has to settle for a 30-ball 59. Is this the game-changing breakthrough for Cape Town Blitz?
Fifty for de Villiers! A sublime start to the tournament for the former South African captain. He has brought up his half-century off just 26 balls. Can he convert this into a match-winning knock?
10 runs from the Nawaz over. After reverse-sweeping the left-arm spinner for a boundary, de Villiers is content on rotating the strike. He's planning to take this deep.
Elgar departs! George Linde removes the left-hander with an excellent return catch. He was looking in good flow until the dismissal. This could be a significant setback for the Spartans.
Brilliant over from Mohammad Nawaz! The left-arm spinner fires it in and prevents de Villiers from getting underneath the ball. Just six runs from the over.
Close shave for de Villiers! The right-hander gets into the groove with a boundary and almost throws it away next ball. Fortunately for him as well as the packed audience in the arena, the ball drops short of long-on.
The required run-rate has climbed up to 11.07. The Spartans desperately need a special knock from de Villiers to get close. Will the dynamic batsman come to the party?
Piedt lands the first blow! The off-spinner tosses one up and invites an ugly across-the-line heave from Tony de Zorzi. The ballooning top-edge is grabbed safely by George Linde. Dean Elgar has arrived at the crease.
Only one run from the second over! Anrich Nortje is getting steep bounce from a good length and troubling the Spartans openers. This 25-year old pacer can be an exciting prospect for South Africa.
Splendid first over from off-spinner Dane Piedt. Hits the in-between length and forces the batsmen to play him off the back foot. Decent bounce as well from the Newlands pitch.
After a shaky start, Cape Town rode on a brilliant partnership between Mohammad Nawaz and Kyle Verreynne to register a formidable total. Tshwane Spartans have to operate at nine runs per over to chase this down. Can they get to the target? Stay tuned for the run-chase.
15 runs from the last over! Strong finish for Cape Town. Robbie Frylinck's lack of pace and/or variation is exposed as George Linde ends the innings with a boundary followed by a six.
Nawaz falls! The Pakistani left-hander holes out to long-on after making a handy 37-ball 59. Tshwane Spartans finally manage to break the partnership. After conceding a six off the first ball, Andrew Birch gives away three singles off the remaining five. Excellent comeback.
150 up for Cape Town! This partnership is blossoming nicely. Verreynne and Nawaz have scored 92 runs from 54 balls. How many more can they add in the last two overs?
Jeevan Mendis does a Kedar Jadhav! The Sri Lankan leg-spinner goes round-arm and delivers the ball from an incredibly low angle. Perhaps, a death overs variation from the T20 globetrotter? 8 runs from his last over. He finishes an impressive spell of 1/29.
The stage is set for a death overs onslaught. Can Cape Town Blitz live up to their name and unleash a blitzkrieg during the last five overs? Both Verreynne and Nawaz are looking imposing at the crease.
Kyle Verreynne lifts Sipamla into the stands! Cape Town are well and truly on the charge. Aside from a regular dose of boundaries, the duo are also pinching quick singles.
14 runs from the over! Rory Kleinveldt's second spell does not begin well as the two well-set batsmen manage to innovate against him without too much fuss.
Massive six from Nawaz! He picks up the length quickly and pulls Sipamla on the front foot. This is turning into a valuable knock from the Pakistani all-rounder.
Three fours in the over! Mohammad Nawaz is taking a liking to Shaun von Berg's leg-breaks. With the ball spinning into him, the left-hander is able to execute his plans quite comfortably. This could be the over Cape Town have been looking for.
At the half-way mark, Cape Town are hovering around 6.7 runs per over. The hosts need a massive push in the next few overs if they are to register a competitive total.
Jeevan Mendis strikes! The leg-spinner has been varying his pace and lengths nicely to pile pressure on the batsmen. Jason Smith has no answer to a tossed-up googly. He charges down the track and is beaten all ends up.
The runs are beginning to flow as Janneman Malan and Jason Smith look to build a partnership. Lutho Sipamla's opening over goes for 13 runs. The seamer errs in line slightly and both batsmen duly pounce.
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