The Mzansi Super League (MSL) which was originally scheduled to take place in February 2022 has been cancelled. An important point to be noted is the fact that the tournament had managed to secure an official sponsor as well. The reason for it being officially called off is the difficult environment caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This isn’t the first time the MSL has been cancelled, as the 2020 edition was scrapped due to COVID-19 logistical challenges as well. This T20 tournament was originally slated to be a global T20 competition, much like IPL, BBL, CPL and PSL but hasn’t happened since the opening season.

Domestic T20 tournament to replace MSL

In a statement, CSA stated the reasons for calling off this edition of the MSL. Pholetsi Moseki, CSA’s acting chief executive officer announced that a domestic T20 tournament organized by CSA will replace the T20 league. This domestic T20 tournament, which featured eight teams shall commence in February 2022.

“This was done to create a commercial vehicle to attract global and local sponsors as well as to drive interest in cricket amongst non-cricket fans in South Africa. However, restrictions such as stricter travel possibilities, the Bio-Secure Environment frustrations, fear of the new variant, and the weak Rand/US Dollar exchange rate are some of the main reasons why CSA has taken the decision to call off the 2022 version of the MSL,” stated the official CSA release, according to Cricbuzz.

“The decision to cancel the 2021 edition of the MSL is meant to allow CSA and its strategic partners to revamp and review the tournament post-Covid-19 to regain its market and commercial position. For its purposes, the MSL slot will again be replaced by a domestic CSA T20 Challenge, featuring the 8 (eight) Division 1 teams and this tournament will take place in February 2022,” said Pholetsi Moseki.

In the past weekend, due to the virus, CSA also postponed the remaining round of the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series across Divisions One and Two of the year. Thus, the last edition of the MSL happened in 2019, with the Paarl Rocks winning it.

The Mzansi Super League is the premier T20 tournament played in South Africa. The league consists of six franchise teams that represent different cities of South Africa. The first edition of the tournament was played from 16 November to 16 December 2018. Later, the second edition was organized in 2019 while the 2020 edition was not held due to the COVID pandemic. The third season is expected to be played in 2021. In this article, we will be listing out-

Winners of each edition of MSL held so far

2018

In the first season, a total of six teams took part with the league stage held in a round-robin format, and each team clashing against the other teams twice. The six teams were Cape Town Blitz, Jozi Stars, Paarl Rocks, Nelson Mandela Bay Giants, Tshwane Spartans, and Durban Heat.

According to the league rules, the team finishing at the top of the points table will directly qualify for the final, while the second and third-placed teams will fight for the second spot in the final. The Cape Town Blitz team was at the first position at the end of the league stage and reached the finals by virtue of that.

Jozi Stars and Paarl Rocks played the qualifier which was abandoned due to rain. Thus the Jozi Stars team reached the finals as they were above in the points table. In the final match, Cape town Blitz could score only 113/7 in 20 overs. In the bowling department, Beuran Hendricks and Duanne Olivier took 2 wickets each.

Chasing this target, opener Ryan Rickelton was dismissed early by Dale Steyn. After this, Rassie van der Dussen played a wonderful knock of 59 runs off 54 balls to ensure an 8-wicket victory for the team. Quinton de Kock who scored 415 runs in the first season was chosen as the player of the tournament.

2019

In the second season, Paarl Rocks directly reached the finals as they were table toppers, while Bay Giants and Tshwane Spartans finished second and third respectively. In the qualifier match, Tshwane Spartans registered a 22-run win as they restricted Bay Giants to 144/8 after scoring 166/4.

In the final match, Tshwane Spartans scored 147/6 while batting first with the help of a fifty from AB de Villiers. In the chase, Henry David smashed 77 runs off 44 balls and helped Paarl Rocks win their maiden title.

MSL winners list

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the countries that it is played in. The fans of the sport are on the lookout for any bit of information and news that they can get about their favourite players and teams. And, with the advent of T20 leagues and internet across the globe, the social media engagement of people with the sporting personalities and other people involved with the sport has skyrocketed.

Sporting leagues across the world have made sure that over the years, they maintain a connection with their followers through various social media platforms. They ensure that they are posting regular updates about the players, the teams and other engaging content throughout the year, keeping their fans hooked to their handles.

And, with the world suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media has become the new norm of communications of all forms over the last few months.

So, here’s a look at which T20 league has how many followers on social media:

6. Mzansi Super League – 258.70K

The South African T20 tournament, the Mzansi Super League, after its start in 2018 has been gaining more and more fan following every passing edition. Having seen participation from the greats of the South African cricketing circles, the fans from all over the world have shown ample amount of love to the league everywhere, including social media channels.

The organisers of the tournament have made sure that with the help of all the resources they have at their disposal, they make full use of it and deliver to the fans, what would be a really wholesome experience for the fans and followers of the tournament. Cricket South Africa and the other South African greats have made sure that the tournament remains relevant in the social circles of the fans and they are constantly engaged with them on social media platforms.

With most of the fans of the tournament, currently in their homes, for over six months now, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the handles of the tournament across the internet have remained active, sharing glimpses of the past editions of the tournament at regular intervals.

5. T20 Blast, England – 1.12 Million

A league that is still in its formative years, the T20 Blast from England managed to secure the 5th spot in this tightly contested list of the most popular T20 tournaments from across the globe in terms of social media followers. The first edition of the current form of the tournament was played in 2014 and since then year by year, its popularity has been increasing.

Prior to how it is known today, the T20 Blast was called the Twenty20 Cup when it first started off in 2003. And, then it was changed to be called the Friends Provident and after a season as the Friends Life T20 in 2010, before finally coming to be known as what we call it today, the T20 Blast. The tournament has a massive following in England and has gradually risen in popularity in other places, especially after the England national team started doing well in the limited-overs format of cricket, producing global stars like Eoin Morgan and Joe Root.

Alongside the Caribbean Premier League in the West Indies, it’s one of the few active T20 competitions helping the fans cope up with the emotional toll that the cricket fans all across the globe have been going through after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

4. Big Bash League – 3.50 Million

The Big Bash League was one of the most popular leagues established after the rise of the Indian Premier League in India. The Australians, have been known to be really avid followers of the sport of cricket, with the fans of the sport of cricket in the country going absolutely berserk in the cricketing season.

After its inaugural season in 2011, the popularity of the tournament has grown immensely, roping in fans from across the globe. One of the major causes for this has been the continued participation of overseas greats like Kevin Pietersen, Brendon McCullum, and the like, who in their days were seldom seen playing franchise cricket rarely apart from being a part of the Indian Premier League.

The league continues to get popularity and love from cricket aficionados from across the globe, and with the 10th season all set to start later this year, the number of followers of the league across social media platforms is expected to go nowhere but up, even surpassing some of its close competitors in this list.

3. Caribbean Premier League – 4.39 Million

Coming from a country that has time and again produced stars of T20 cricket, that is loved across the world, the Caribbean Premier League has managed to get a sizeable number of followers on social media. With numbers as high as 4.39 million in total and still growing every minute, it is very clear that the social media team of the tournament have got their game on point.

The tournament, which was one of the few major leagues played after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the human race, devastating our daily lives, came like a breath of fresh air for the cricket fans, as they could finally see their favourite players on the field, after almost a six-month-long break, which is a long long time in cricket.

As stated earlier, since the fans were not allowed to flock to the stadiums in order to watch the action unfold on the field, as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus, they resorted to social media for getting all their updates. And, the way the Caribbean Premier League handled the entire situation, never letting the fans have a dull moment, is really commendable.

2. Pakistan Super League – 6.14 Million

Following the Indian Premier League in the list of the most number of social media followers is the Pakistan Super League. Started in the year 2016, the league has been one of the only sources for the Pakistani fans to witness their own players and some of the overseas players playing live in their own backyards.

This has led to the league gaining immense popularity among the people in the country and its neighbours in the sub-continent. People of the sub-continent love the sport of cricket so much that it was nothing but natural for the tournament getting such huge number of followers across the social media platforms.

The handles of the tournament on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have been active all through the year posting content that helps the fans relive the memories of the past editions and gets them a regular dose of cricketing action and news relating to their favourite players.

1. Indian Premier League – 28.9 Million

Undoubtedly one of the most popular and the most followed T20 leagues across the globe, the Indian Premier League tops the charts in terms of social media followers beating every other tournament by a huge margin. Being played in a nation with over a billion people living in it and following the sport of cricket like a religion, IPL was bound to have the number of followers it has at the moment.

One of the other major factors that has propelled the numbers for IPL so high is that the tournament sees participation from players of almost every major cricket playing nation. So, the residents and fans of the players from other countries also add up to the mammoth numbers that IPL has.

With the 13th season of the tournament all set to begin from the 19th of September and the fans not being able to go to the cricket grounds to watch live cricket, they would resort to following the league’s happenings on the digital platforms. And, it should surprise no one if the numbers go higher up.

The razmataz of the 2019 Mzansi Super League finally came to an end with the Paarl Rocks and Tshwane Spartans locking horns in the finale of the franchise tournament. In the end, Faf du Plessis-led Paarl Rocks have been crowned MSL Champions for the 2019 edition after they successfully swatted aside Tshwane Spartans in what turned out to be a one-sided season finale.

Paarl was packed to the rafters for the marquee finale as star-studded players like AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis descended onto the stadium for the rights to be crowned MSL champions. But, it wasn’t either of them who were the major attraction among the girls in the finals. It was Sri Lanka’s bowling all-rounder Isuru Udana. One of the fans, who was so infatuated even asked the all-rounder to marry her. She was seen holding a placard “Marry me Udana”

But, Udana, who is already married came up with a great reply to the infatuated fan. The all-rounder displayed his finger that had his wedding ring. One of the fans ably captured the moment and took to Twitter where he wrote, “#MSLT20 #MslT20Final fan moment @IAmIsuru17 very good answer I have already one ring.”

#MSLT20 #MslT20Final fan moment @IAmIsuru17 very good answer I have allredy one ring pic.twitter.com/Us199QNi6K

— mohamed arsath (@BmArsath1) December 16, 2019

Paarl Rocks crowed MSL 2019 champions 

Coming back to the finals, it turned to be a one-sided encounter, to say the least as Faf du Plessis-led Paarl Rocks romped to title glory by swatting aside Tshwane Spartans with disdain. Batting first, Tshwane Spartans could only manage an underwhelming 6-147 after 20 overs. Kerwin Mungroo [1-21] and Isuru Udana [2-20] were the spearheads with the ball as they didn’t allow the likes of AB de Villiers [51 off 37 balls], Henrich Klaasen [21 off 19 balls] and Peter Biljon [19 off 20 ballls] to break the shackles 

148 was never going to bother Paarl Rocks. And, it didn’t, as Henry Davids- the tournament’s leading run-scorer- spearheaded the effort with a whirlwind 44-ball 77 along with Dwaine Pretorius, who scored an equally swashbuckling 21-ball 43.

Faf du Plessis was naturally elated with the title-winning heist. In the post-match presentation, the Paarl Rocks skipper said, “I want to thank the fans first. It was an amazing crowd. It feels like a party when you play cricket here. There were fantastic team performances throughout the tournament. We had a very team when it comes to taking pace off the ball.”

Watch: Dale Steyn’s cheeky run-out attempt against AB de Villiers

The Rocks claimed the title when they beat the Spartans by 8 wickets in an exciting climax to the competition in front of a packed crowd at Eurolux Boland Park last night. The Faf du Plessis-led side gunned down the 148-run target within 15 overs itself thanks to a scintillating knock from Henry Davids.

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Acting Chief Executive Jacques Faul congratulated the winning team. He was thrilled with the fact that the tournament did well despite a lot of matches getting washed out due to rain. Tshwane Spartans were the runners-up who couldn’t put their best foot forward in the final when it mattered the most.

“Congratulations to our deserving champions,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Dr. Jacques Faul, “and indeed congratulations go to all the teams for making this a thrilling tournament in spite of the severe weather conditions that disrupted it at times.

“The fact that five of the six teams were still in contention for the knock-out phase right up to the last round of league play says it all. One of the standout features for me has been the commitment of our players which has resulted in a very high standard of play that stands comparison with similar tournaments around the world. There have been numerous standout individual performances, record run chases and the emergence of exciting new talent.

Faul delighted with the response from the fans

“The tournament continues to grow into a top product that has drawn a big television audience both here through our partners, the SABC, and around the world. Spectator numbers are also showing growth as was witnessed by our full house at the final this evening.

“I would also like to congratulate our tournament director, Russell Adams, and the staff of CSA and the various franchises for an extremely well run event that measured up to the best professional standards,” concluded Dr. Faul. South Africa’s international summer now gets underway with England visiting first. The two teams will face each other in four Tests, three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals until February 2020.

Watch – Quinton de Kock cunningly runs Phehlukwayo out

After all the hard work that they put in, it turned out that it wasn’t the Tshwane Spartans’ day in the final. Playing away from home against the Paarl Rocks, the team faltered under pressure. In the second edition of the Mzansi Super League (MSL), the Paarl Rocks got crowned as the Champions after a superlative performance. They were great with the ball as well as the bat. Henry Davids played a brilliant knock in the final to help his team cruise past the winning line.

The Tshwane Spartans were asked to bat first after they lost the toss. They didn’t get off to the best possible starts and most of their batsmen played slow knocks. However, AB de Villiers came to the rescue and helped the team get to a respectable total. He scored 51 off 37 balls while Dean Elgar was the next highest scorer with a 22-ball 22.

It seemed as if there was a lack of intent and urgency in their batting style. Thus, they couldn’t get a big score and had to settle with 147/6 in this big final. Isuru Udana and Tabraiz Shamsi picked up two wickets each and kept things tight with the ball.

Henry Davids delivers when it mattered the most

Henry Davids has blown hot and cold in this tournament and the onus was on him and Cameron Delport to take the side off to a good start. However, the left-hander got out after he mustered 18 runs at run-a-ball. However, Davids never let the foot off the pedal. He kept the intensity going and also instilled confidence in Dwaine Pretorius who was dropped early in his innings.

Davids ensured that he helped his team get over the line with his unbeaten knock off 77 off 44 balls. Pretorius, on the other side, got out for 43 (21 balls) when his team was just a few runs shy of a win. Faf du Plessis completed the chase for his team with a single as the celebrations began in the Rocks’ camp.

The fans were delighted with this victory. It was indeed a special one as the team missed out on making it to the final last year because the Eliminator was washed out due to rain.

Here is how Twitterati reacted:

The Paarl Rocks have certainly "Rocked" this Mzansi Super League 👌. The celebrations were in full flow 🎶🎤🔊📢🎉💃 #mslt20 #fastfunforall pic.twitter.com/aqhjFdoeD5

— Cricket Fanatics Magazine (@cricfanaticsmag) December 17, 2019

Congratulations @Paarl_Rocks 🔥🔥🔥 2019 MSL_T20 Champions 👏👏👏 #MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/6HiiiDcKe3

— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) December 16, 2019

Congratulations to our cricket clients and the @Paarl_Rocks on winning the 2019 @MSL_T20 👏🏏🏆#MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/ou6tZUcLYx

— Prosport International (@ProsportInt) December 17, 2019

The Paarl Rocks have beaten the Tshwane Spartans by 8 wickets.

148/2

Davids 77*
Du Plessis 3*

WE ARE THE 2019 MSLT20 CHAMPIONS! 💜💜💜#MSLT20 #PaarlRocks #PRvTS pic.twitter.com/F1WNF54DC0

— South Africa Women (@ProteasWomen) December 17, 2019

what a fantastic game😍😍.what a performance😘😘 .what a final.what a nock🔥🔥.this year's champion2019🏆@faf1307 #WhistlePodu@Paarl_Rocks #congraglation💐💐#MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/3EBOaqt81o

— syed sulthan (@syedsul17364354) December 17, 2019

RT @MSL_T20: 🎶 Take the trophy home, we the champions champions 🎶

The Paarl Rocks are YOUR 2019 #MSLT20 2.0 champions 🏆

Join us in spreading the good vibes by replying with a 🎉 emoji pic.twitter.com/3KpKMJL4cx

— adi (@adi7anand) December 16, 2019

@Paarl_Rocks have won this years #MSLT20. Congrats boys! 🇿🇦 Let’s meet back here in 2020 @MSL_T20👊🏾 pic.twitter.com/D4P1j4qPKF

— AKA (@akaworldwide) December 16, 2019

The #PaarlRocks have beaten the Tshwane Spartans by 8 wickets.

Paarl Rocks ARE THE 2019 #MSLT20 CHAMPIONS! 💜💜💜#MSLT20Final #PRvTS #mzansisuperleague pic.twitter.com/5fG08r5Ydf

— Sportsnetic Shri (@Sportsneticshri) December 16, 2019

Well done Paarl Rocks 👏 #MSLT20Final #MSLT20 #PaarlRocks pic.twitter.com/Eh8ycON5Ee

— JV@black (@JVblack8) December 16, 2019

🏏 We are incredibly proud of our #MSLT20 Champions🏆

We know they rock. You know they rock. Now the WORLD knows they rock. @Paarl_Rocks ROCKS🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/YLjwSICXnf

— Good Hope FM (@GoodHopeFM) December 16, 2019

What 👏🏽 a 👏🏽 game 👏🏽! Congratulations @Paarl_Rocks! #MSLT20 Champions. 🏆🎉💃🏽 pic.twitter.com/ILYmUpNtAe

— Sipokazi Sokanyile (@Syfokazi) December 16, 2019

Toss Update

Paarl Rocks won the toss and elected to field first

Paarl Rocks Playing XI:

Henry Davids, Cameron Delport, Faf du Plessis (c), Dwaine Pretorius Kyle Verreynne (wk), Sibonelo Makhanya, Isuru Udana, Ferisco Adams, Bjorn Fortuin, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kerwin Mungroo.

Tshwane Spartans Playing XI:

Tony De Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Roelof van der Merwe, AB de Villiers, Heinrich Klaasen (C & WK), Petrus van Biljon, Wiaan Mulder, Tom Curran, Morne Morkel, Lutho Sipamla, Corbin Bosch.

Match Details:

The final of the 2019-20 Mzansi Super League will be played between Paarl Rocks and Tshwane Spartans at the Boland Park in Paarl.

The match starts at 09:00 PM IST (15:30 PM GMT/05:30 PM Local). It can be watched live on Sony Six and Sony Six HD. Live streaming will be available on Sony LIV and Fan code in India.

Preview for Dream11 Fantasy:

Paarl Rocks will lock horns against Tshwane Spartans in the final of MSL 2019. It is expected to be an enthralling encounter for the fans on Monday.

Rocks will bank on their in-form batsman Cameron Delport and their skipper Faf du Plessis, who have consistently scored runs for their side in the ongoing tournament. In the second half of MSL 2019, James Vince has also shown some glimpse of returning back into the form. Moreover, their bowling unit has also performed convincingly well and will be looking to continue with the same in the final.

Spartans defeated Nelson Mandela Bay Giants in the semi-finals and reserved their spot in the final of the tournament. Their side is performing decently well and has come up with strong team effort. The likes of AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar and Morne Morkel also makes them the favourites to win the final in order to lift MSL trophy.

Weather Condition/Report:

With no chances of rain, it is expected to be a perfect day for a cricket match. however, the temperature is expected to deviate between 32 and 34 Degree Celsius according to Accuweather.

Pitch Condition/Report:

The track is expected to go in favour of batsmen, who will get an opportunity to play big knock in the final of MSL 2019. However, the spinners will also play an important role as they will get some turn from the wicket in the later part of the match. The team winning the toss will look to bat first as far as the trends of this tournament are concerned.

Average first innings score: 169 (In 6 T20s played at the venue this season)

Record of chasing teams: Won-3, Lost-2, Tie/NR – 1

Injury and Availability News:

Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the final as he has sustained a Grade 1 hamstring muscle tear.

Probable Playing XIs:

Tshwane Spartans:

Tony De Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Roelof van der Merwe, AB de Villiers, Heinrich Klaasen (C & WK), Petrus van Biljon, Wiaan Mulder, Tom Curran, Morne Morkel, Lutho Sipamla, Corbin Bosch.

Bench: Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Waqar Salamkheil, Donavon Ferreira, Lungi Ngidi

Top Picks:

AB de Villiers has mustered 274 runs in eight games at a strike rate 155.68. He will be a hot favourite pick for any Dream11 Fantasy Side. Faf du Plessis will be another important player to watch out in the final of MSL 2019.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain Options – Cameron Delport, James Vince, Morne Morkel

Vice-Captain Options – AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Bjorn Fortuin

Suggested playing XI no.1 for fantasy cricket:

Keeper –  P van Biljon

Batsmen – Faf du Plessis (VC), Cameron Delport, AB de Villiers (C), Dean Elgar,

All-Rounders – Roelof van der Merwe, Isuru Udana, David Wiese

Bowlers – Tabraiz Shamsi, Morne Morkel, Bjorn Fortuin, Kerwin Mungroo

Suggested playing XI no.2 for fantasy cricket:

Keeper –  Heinrich Klaasen

Batsmen – Faf du Plessis, Cameron Delport (C), Tony De Zorzi, Dean Elgar (VC)

All-Rounders –Ferisco Adams, Isuru Udana, Dwaine Pretorius

Bowlers –Tabraiz Shamsi, Morne Morkel, Bjorn Fortuin

Expert Advice:

It is expected to be a high scoring match, so picking top-order batsmen in a Grand League Side will be a wise step to take. Moreover, include at least one spinner in the side because the wicket will also assist the spin heads during the match.

Probable Winners:

Tshwane Spartans are the favourites to win the final of MSL 2019.

*Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision

As MSL 2019 has reached its pinnacle, two pals Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers will battle it out in the final of the tournament. Paarl Rocks and Tshwane Spartans will lock horns in the final of the MSL 2019 at Boland Park on Sunday. Both the teams rather had an unlike journey to book their berth in the finals.

Paarl Rocks have delivered consistent performances throughout the season. The Faf du Plessis-led side topped the points table after registering six wins from their ten matches and amassing 27 points. Cameron Delport and James have been two rock-solid pillars of their batting force.

Tabraiz Shamsi, who has scalped 14 wickets so far in the tournament, has been their top-performing bowler. Bjorn Fortuin has also garnered much attention this season after picking up eight wickets this season. Considering their excellent form in the MSL 2019, Rocks will be favourites to clinch the title this season. However, they have suffered defeats in the past four encounters against Tshwane Spartans, something that Rocks would be hoping to change.

Tshwane Spartans, on the other hand, have been a tad lucky with five of their matches getting washed out due to rain.  Spartans have gathered 23 points in the tournament by winning three matches out of ten. However, individual performances from AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar and Morne Morkel cannot be overlooked.

Skipper AB de Villiers has led his side from the front by delivering several match-winning performances. Regarded as one of the best batsmen to embrace the limited-overs format, the right-hander has gathered 274 runs in eight matches in Spartans’ campaign. Morkel has been the pick of the bowlers as the pacer has scalped 12 wickets so far in the tournament.

Pitch and Weather Conditions

There are no chances of rain whatsoever. The temperature is expected to hover around 19 degrees Celcius with moderate levels of humidity, according to AccuWeather. The chasing sides on this track have found it relatively comfortable to bat second no matter what the target has been. The dew factor has played a significant role here and perhaps will be a great advantage for the side batting second.

Team Combination

Paarl Rocks

Rocks will be relying on their strong batting force comprising the likes of Faf du Plessis, James Vince and Cameron Delport. All eyes will be on Tabraiz Shamsi, who has picked up 14 wickets in Rocks’ successful MSL 2019 campaign. He will be assisted by Bjorn Fortuin and Isuru Udana. Udana’s contribution will prove vital as the all-rounder has delivered match-winning performances in both the departments.

Predicted XI: Cameron Delport, Henry Davids, James Vince, Faf du Plessis (c), Kyle Verreynne (wk), Sibonelo Makhanya, Isuru Udana, Hardus Viljoen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bjorn Fortuin, Kerwin Mungroo

Tshwane Spartans

Spartans will be relying on the duo of Morne Morkel and Lungi Ngidi to provide the early breakthroughs with the new ball. Both the pacers, who have ample experience under their belt, have scalped 12 and 9 wickets respectively. Skipper AB de Villiers, who has scored 274 runs in eight matches at an impressive average of 45.66, will be steering their batting attack along with Dean Elgar. Elgar has gathered 194 runs from seven matches at an average of 38.80.

Predicted XI: Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, AB de Villiers, Heinrich Klaasen (C & WK), Petrus van Biljon, Tom Curran, Roelof van der Merwe, Corbin Bosch, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi, Waqar Salamkheil.

Predicted top performers

Paarl Rocks – Cameron Delport | Tshwane Spartans – AB de Villiers

Broadcast Details

TV – Sony Six, Sony Six HD

Online– Sony LIV

Match Timings – 21:00 IST, and 17:30 local time

The prediction is for Paarl Rocks to win the match

The points table of the Mzansi Super League 2019 makes for interesting viewing as the defending champions finished bottom without winning any match. The Jozi Stars lost each of their first seven matches in the tournament. Their last three matches ended without a result due to which they earned 6 points. The more bizarre part of the tournament’s points table is Cape Town Blitz finishing 5th despite winning four matches.

The likes of Tshwane Spartans and Durban Heat finished 3rd and 4th respectively by winning only three matches. Spartans, who made it to the Elimination Final by ending on 3rd position, have qualified for the finals by defeating the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants. They will face off the Paarl Rocks in the final on Monday night at the Paarl’s Boland Park. Finishing on the top of the table by virtue of NRR helped Paarl to host the final.

Points table explanation:

Though both Spartans and Heat had fewer wins than the Cape Town Blitz, both have got more points. Both the teams earned as many as 10 points through five washed out matches. The Blitz had only one abandoned game and five defeats in the 10 matches whereas Tshwane and Durban suffered only three losses. The Spartans won a match by bonus point which helped them to finish with 23 points, one more than the Durban Heat.

The Cape Town Blitz ended up with only 19 points as they also had one bonus point win of the four victories. The team with higher number of wins will finish higher only if the multiple teams are levelled on points. Since the Blitz were well behind on the number of points, they had to finish behind Spartans and Heat despite winning a game more.

It won’t be right to assume Cape Town as the unluckier side who got to play the underperforming team Jozi Stars twice in the league. The Spartans defeated the Stars once while their 2nd game against them was abandoned. The Durban Heat are easily the most unfortunate side in the tournament as their last two matches were scheduled against Jozi Stars. Both the games getting abandoned ensured the Durban franchise fell one point short of playing the Elimination Final.

Watch – Dane Vilas’ outrageous scoop shot

The 2019 Mzansi Super League (MSL) final taking place at Eurolux Boland Park on Monday night has been sold out. All 7 500 tickets were snapped up within a day and a half to ensure the biggest crowd of the tournament. Faf du Plessis’ Paarl Rocks team will face the Tshwane Spartans in the title clash who defeated the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants by 22 runs in Port Elizabeth in the eliminator.

Paarl Rocks CEO James Fortuin said the quick ticket sales were a testament to the quality of the cricket played at the MSL T20 as well as the great entertainment provided for fans at games.

“We have created a vibe at Eurolux Boland Park over the last two months which enticed not only regular cricket supporters, but also new converts to this exciting new form of entertainment. We are going all-out to ensure Monday night will be memorable. There will be music, dancing, fireworks and much more entertainment presented in a family-friendly environment,” he said.

“The support the Paarl Rocks have received from the community in the wider Boland area has been phenomenal and we see Monday night as a thank you to our purple army of supporters,” Fortuin said. The final of the Mzansi Super League is taking place at Eurolux Boland Park on Monday 16 December at 17:30. Gates open at 15:30.

Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers face-off in MSL 2019 final

It will be a treat for the fans as two best friends and former South Africa teammates Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers will face off in the final on Monday. Both the batsmen are in great form in the tournament thus far and it would be interesting to see who comes out on top to win the title.

The Rocks have been one of the consistent teams in the season thus far as they topped the table as well in the league stages. The Spartans, on the other hand, have been a tad lucky with five of their matches getting washed out due to rain. Having said that, credit goes to them for playing some attractive brand of cricket.

Watch – Junior Dala’s delivery to castle Magala