The opening match of the 2019 Mzansi Super League is a repeat of the final from last season as the Jozi Stars kick off their title defence against the Cape Town Blitz in what looks like an entertaining opening to the event.
That means we will be seeing Quinton de Kock against Chris Gayle from the outset of the competition but the support acts around those two sides are nothing to be sniffed at either it has to be said.
Jozi Stars
The defending champions will be out to display their dominance right from the off this season and with a home game to start with at The Wanderers, there will be plenty of expectation on them to deliver the goods. We saw last season just how good a team they are, and there is the potential for them to be even better this time around too which is quite something. Conditions in Joburg are pretty unique which can often help the Stars.
The thing I like about the Jozi Stars is their side always seems to know their role and they have such confidence in their bowling attack that they don’t need to go chasing big scores. Reeza Hendricks might not be the biggest hitter in the world but he churns out the runs and then the hitters play around him to make them a formidable side. They don’t lack for experience which can always be a good thing in this format of the game.
Cape Town Blitz
There should be no shortage of motivation around this Cape Town Blitz side after losing to the Jozi Stars in the final last term. They will feel a little hard done by in the 2018 campaign as they were denied the use of a lot of international talent through the early part of the competition but that is not the case here so it will be interesting to see what they offer in this match up. Just looking at their squad they do not lack for quality.
They have firepower right throughout their ranks with the bat and then when it comes to the ball they are full of international talent, so the Blitz should be confident about their chances, although it is important that they don’t fall into the trap of trying to hit every ball for six here. We’ve seen so many sides chase 200 here and come up miles short. They need to play the conditions properly to succeed.
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Team News
Chris Gayle will headline the side for the Jozi Stars in the first of six matches he is available for as an overseas player. Dan Christian is the other overseas player while the likes of Simon Harmer, Aaron Phangiso and of course Kagiso Rabada should deliver the goods with the ball.
Quinton de Kock skippers the Cape Town Blitz as he looks to continue his fine form of a year ago. Dale Steyn, Amrich Nortje and Vernon Philander will be tasked with delivering with the ball while Liam Livngstone and Moeen Ali will do the overseas honours.
Betting
I am no stranger to expecting sixes when matches on this ground take place but I think that expectation is justified a little more here given the firepower on show with the bat in this match. The likes of Chris Gayle, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingston and Janneman Malan can all smack a ball a long way.
The sixes line here is 13.5 which looks a little on the light side given that we have so many natural hitters of the ball on show but when you factor in this is a pretty tiny ground and the altitude of Johannesburg will make the ball travel even further I think we have to accept sixes should come frequently. There were 16 sixes between these two last season and Gayle, Moeen and Livingstone were nowhere to be seen. This line should be covered.
Tips
WON – Back Over 13.5 sixes for a 5/10 stake at 1.73 with William Hill
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