Durban Heat on Thursday (November 28) defeated Cape Town Blitz by seven wickets to keep its hopes of reaching the MSL 2019 playoffs alive. The team hadn't won a game before this one, having suffered two losses and seen three games abandoned due to bad weather.

But as it turned out, winning the toss, Blitz decided to bat first before opener Janneman Malan (75) and middle-order batsman David Bedingham (44) played the stand-out knocks for their team. Blitz, on a flat wicket, eventually posted a mammoth total of 181/5 in their 20 overs. 

While the rest of the Heat bowling attack went for plenty, Kyle Abbott (2/32), Keshav Maharaj (0/24) and Andile Phehlukwayo (1/22) did bowl well. 

In the run-chase, openers Wesley Marshall (12) and Alex Hales (10) fell cheaply but middle-order mainstay Wihan Lubbe (49) and skipper Dane Vilas (75*) came to the rescue, resurrecting the innings with a 45-run stand before Wihan was dismissed. Vilas, however, continued the good work as he found another able partner in David Miller who scored a well-measured 26 not out. Together they helped the team reach home comfortably in the final over. 

Dale Steyn (2/25) had figures befitting his status but the rest of the Blitz bowling unit struggled to pile on the pressure he created early on and tap the run-flow. 

Brief scores: 

Cape Town Blitz 181/5 in 20 overs (Janneman Malan 75; Kyle Abbott 2/32) lost to Durban Heat 182/3 in 19.3 overs (Dane Vilas 75*; Dale Steyn 2/25) by seven wickets.