The Mzansi Super League is back at Newlands on Friday evening when the Durban Heat look to finally get their competition underway when they go into battle against the Paarl Rocks, who have already shown their worth in the tournament.
Durban saw their only scheduled match in the event to date rained off last week so they will finally be looking to get on the field here. The Paarl Rocks have also only had one game on their slate but they dominated it.
Durban Heat
The washout in the opening match for the Durban Heat hasn’t hit them as hard as it might have done because a couple of other sides have also encountered issues with the weather. The only thing it does do is put a little bit of pressure on them in their remaining home matches as it was a game on their own patch which got washed out. That it was against the Tshwane Spartans, who look fairly weak thus far, isn’t so helpful.
I mentioned in the outright preview to the tournament that I fancied the Heat to have an improved season. Admittedly it won’t take a whole lot for that to happen but they signed well in the close season and I would expect the majority of those men coming in to be itching to get out onto the field and show their worth for their new side. They should get that opportunity here and they will need to hit the ground running.
Paarl Rocks
Although I expected the Durban Heat to deliver a good season, it is the Paarl Rocks I have tipped for glory this season and in their only match of the tournament to date, we saw why. They might not have the flashiest batting line up in the world, but they don’t lack for a bit of quality in their top order at the same time. The big reason why I like the Rocks this term is the standard of their bowling attack, which I always maintain is the real benchmark of a champion side.
We saw exactly that in their opening match to date when they skittled the Cape Town Blitz for 84, a Blitz side who 213/3 and 183/6 in their other two matches already this term. If there is more to come from Paarl, and there very well could be given that they have only had one run out, then they are going to take a bit of beating here. I really like the variety in the Paarl attack and what they lack in sparkling power they make up for with experience with the bat. It is a good combination.
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Team News
Durban might not have hit the pitch yet in this tournament but already they have a couple of injury concerns as quick bowlers Marco Jansen and Daryn Dupavillion both have knocks. Alex Hales and Ravi Bopara are in place to begin overseas duties.
Paarl Rocks ordinarily wouldn’t look to make too many changes to a winning side but James Vince will have hooked up to begin his overseas stint so he may well come in somewhere in the batting line up. They could be unchanged aside from that.
Betting
I’ve been keen on the Paarl Rocks since the very first time I looked at this tournament and I am still of that mind-set. They were very impressive in their opening match of the competition and have looked like the best side I’ve seen with the ball thus far, which bodes very well. Admittedly it is slightly difficult to judge the game because the Durban Heat haven’t played a match yet but they’ll have to go well to win here.
Paarl Rocks have a really good side, especially with the ball, and what I like the most about them is that their attack looks like it will be competitive in all kinds of competitions. I’m not sure I see an area where the Heat can dominate this match so I’m happy to back up my outright bet with a punt on the visitors to win this match.
Tips
VOID – Back Paarl Rocks to beat Durban Heat for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Coral
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