Twitter Reactions: Faf du Plessis and Grant Thomson take Paarl Rocks home in a close game
Things went down the wire in the end but Bravo's two sixes kept the Rocks alive in the tournament.
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Paarl Rocks have kept their playoff hopes alive with a close win over the second-placed Jozi Stars. Faf du Plessis and Grant Thomson slammed half-centuries in the nervy chase and though the things went close in the end, the latter kept his nerves and the veteran Dwayne Bravo thumped a couple of game-changing sixes to end the contest. With his victory, the fight for the third place has gotten ever so close and it will be interesting to see who makes it to the eliminator final with three teams in the reckoning.
Chasing the total of 171 runs in a must-win game, Paarl Rocks lost their openers Aiden Markram and Cameron Delport within the third over itself and at 19/2, the tournament looked over for them. But the man of the crisis for them, their skipper Faf du Plessis and Thomson joined hands to stitch a useful partnership. Du Plessis, after gauging the pace of the pitch, took the attack to the opposition bowlers and scored 61 off just 34 balls.
The partnership of 120 runs in less than 13 overs kept them in the driver’s seat in the whole chase. But Du Plessis as pinned in front of the stumps by Daniel Christian and then came the twist in the tail. Patrick Kruger was also sent back in the next over and with Bravo struggling to connect the ball, the equation came down to 22 off the last two overs.
But Thomson and Bravo made sure that the hard work done earlier in the chase was not undone and gunned down the total with three deliveries to spare as the Rocks stay alive in the tournament.
Dussen special propels Stars
After being invited to bat first by the visitors, Chris Gayle and Reeza Hendricks couldn’t give their team a start and were left reeling at 18/2 in the fourth over. But Rassie van der Dussen took it upon himself to score runs. He stitched small partnerships throughout the innings and slammed an unbeaten 83 off just 55 balls with six fours and four massive sixes.
His blitz helped the Jozi Stars post a competitive total of 170 runs for the loss of six wickets but the score wasn’t enough for them to register their fifth consecutive win of the tournament.
Here’s how Twitter reacted during the match:
Faf is really doing a great job in this Paarl Rocks team I must say#MSLT20
— Nkocnathi Mabhuma (@Nkocnathi_) December 9, 2018
Catch of the tournament contender! π€©
Take a bow, David Wiese. ππ#MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/nUIka0IB4i— Mzansi Super League π₯ πΏπ¦ π (@MSL_T20) December 9, 2018
DJ Bravo brave 6s,great win for Rocks! #MSLT20
— Themba Khumalo (@Honesteee3) December 9, 2018
Thank you Paarl Rocks! HOME FINAL FOR THE BLITZ !!!ππβ‘ #MSLT20
— Naeemah (@NaeemahBenjamin) December 9, 2018
DJ Bravo doing what he does best at the back end #MSLT20
— Gontse Matea (@Gontse_Matea) December 9, 2018
Dwayne Bravo wow! #MSLT20
— Siphiwe Gabayiπ (@TheGreatGabayi) December 9, 2018
Faf Du Plessis is in some stunning form, striking at his best (SR 140-150+) , leading from the front today again! #MSLT20
— Captain π (@iEatCricket) December 9, 2018
A brilliantly constructed run chase from the visitors sees them home against the @StarsJozi. The @Paarl_Rocks have kept their playoff hopes alive!#MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/hXrPpQB4B6
— Mzansi Super League π₯ πΏπ¦ π (@MSL_T20) December 9, 2018
Yaaaas!!!
Happy Paarl Rocks Won to keep things interesting on the log πππΎ#MSLT20 #PaarlRocks— Nkocnathi Mabhuma (@Nkocnathi_) December 9, 2018
Dj Bravo πͺπͺπͺπ₯π₯π₯ #MSLT20
— Mandla Hadebe (@MandlaRadebe17) December 9, 2018
Faf Du Plessis In Some Other Zone! GameOn β watching Mzansi Super League
— khajadhearthacker (@khajadhacker) December 9, 2018
When Grame Smith retired, we wondered who's next real captain for our cricket… Boy little did we know Faf Du Plessis is such a talented cricket brain..
Top leader this
— Fanele Mbuyazi (@FaneleMbuyazi8) December 9, 2018
Well done Man of the match Grant Thomson ππΎππΎ #MSLT20
— Thato (@ThatoMamathuba) December 9, 2018
Grant Thomson hits the winning runs for the Rocks who get home with 3 balls to spare. He makes 71. That result also ensures the Blitz qualify for the final which will be be held at Newlands on December 16 (next week).
— stuart hess (@shockerhess) December 9, 2018
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