The Mzansi Super League returns on Friday as six franchises compete in the second season of the competition for the right to follow the Jozi Stars as the winners of the now premier tournament in South Africa.
This season looks like being the best limited overs event in South Africa yet, with plenty of interest for those of us in the UK with a number of England players involved in the tournament, an event which will be shown on BT Sport.
Recent Winners
2018 – Jozi Stars
The Format
All six franchises play each other home and away in the league stage of the competition with four points for a win, three for a tie, two for a no result and nothing for losing. A bonus point is available for the winning side if they win by a net run rate margin of +1.25 or more. The team that tops the table goes straight into the final which they will host on December 16 while the second and third placed teams face off in a semi-final to join them in the title showdown.
The Teams
The Cape Town Blitz were beaten finalists last season and they will be out to go one better than that this time around. There will be no shortage of talent on show for the Blitz with Quinton de Kock skippering a side who are 5/1 to win the tournament. South Africa international bowlers Vernon Philander and Anrich Nortje will catch the eye as will their overseas quartet of Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Mohammad Nawaz and Wahab Riaz. Dale Steyn brings a real quality to the side with the ball assuming he can stay fit.
Durban Heat could be an underrated side in the competition this year even though they are the betting outsiders at 6/1 to be crowned champions. They will be led by Lancashire captain Dane Vilas while Kyle Abbott, Keshar Maharaj, David Miller and Andile Phehlukwayo all catch the eye from a home standpoint. Ravi Bopara and Alex Hales will be available for most of the competition and with Gary Kirsten coaching the side a lot better is expected of the Heat in this edition.
The Jozi Stars begin the tournament as the betting favourites to retain their title at 7/2. The Johannesburg based outfit certainly aren’t going to lack for firepower with Chris Gayle in their ranks for the opening fortnight of the season before Shoaib Malik takes over. Kagiso Rabada is the class act with the ball for the Stars but Aaron Phangiso is always hard to get away in this format. Temba Bavuma, Dan Christian and Rassie van der Dussen will add more fireworks around Reeza Hendricks while Simon Harmer and Duanne Olivier make up a strong bowling attack.
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The Nelson Mandela Bay Giants will kick off the tournament as 11/2 pokes and after just missing out on the semi-final last year they will be eager to go better here and have strengthened their ranks significantly with the additions of Farhaan Behardien and Beuran Hendricks in particular. Jason Roy, Chris Morris and Imran Tahir form a strong core to the side while Junior Dala should add plenty of firepower to the attack. If JJ Smuts has a good season as captain the Bay Giants might not be far away.
Paarl Rocks were the beaten semi-finals of the first season and they look to have a very competitive squad for this edition, on paper at least. Led by South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, they have plenty of firepower with the bat with Henry Davids, JP Duminy and Cameron Delport all quality in this format of the game. James Vince will be involved to add further quality alongside Mangaliso Mosehle with the bat. Isuru Udana is an eye catching choice to back up Hardus Viljoen, Dwaine Pretorius and Tabraiz Shamsi with the bat so the 11/2 Rocks should not be underestimated.
Tshwane Spartans are the final side in the competition and the ones which plenty of attention will be on with AB de Villiers their standout star. Heinrich Klaasen leads the Mark Boucher coached side into action this season and with the likes of Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn and Vaughn van Jaarsveld they shouldn’t be short of batting. Morne Morkel catches the eye with the ball while Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder bring international quality to the attack, as does Tom Curran when he arrives after the first weekend of the event however someone is going to have to make up for Jeevan Mendis who was the second leading wicket taker in the competition last season.
Betting
I like the balance and power of the Paarl Rocks this season. They have a good captain in Faf du Plessis who demands everything from his side and there is a good core of bowlers for him to utilise. The one thing the Rocks do not lack is firepower with the bat in hand as we have seen the likes of JP Duminy and Cameron Delport play some special innings around the world in the last few months or so.
I think the Jozi Stars are worthy favourites and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a better season from the Durban Heat but Paarl made the semi-finals last year and don’t need to improve a huge amount to go a couple of spots better here, especially if they can get off to a faster start, which they should be able to do with their internationals available from the outset unlike last season when they were playing for South Africa. I’ll take the Paarl side at 11/2.
Tips
WON – Back Paarl Rocks to win Mzansi Super League for a 2/10 stake at 6.50 with Coral
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