ABOUT THE MATCH

League leaders Nelson Mandela Bay Giants take on Durban Heat at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, in MSL 2.0 on November 23.

The Giants are unbeaten so far, winning their three completed matches. JJ Smuts, who hit two unbeaten half-centuries against Durban Heat lasts season, was their star man last time out leading a chase of 187 to beat Cape Town Blitz by five wickets.

Durban Heat has been frustrated by the weather so far, meanwhile. Three of their four matches have fallen victim to the rain and their only completed game was lost by ten runs to Cape Town Blitz despite Wihan Lubbe’s batting form.

TOSS PREDICTION

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants have not won the toss in any of their completed matches, but they look good chasing so far and so may elect to field first.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS 

Port Elizabeth favors the batsmen over the bowlers, and that has certainly been the case in MSL 2.0. The slower wicket makes for more balanced contests than other South African grounds, however.

Durban Heat will be pleased to see a forecast clear of rain. It will be windy in Port Elizabeth and temperatures are in the low 20s, but most importantly it should be dry.

PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Nelson Mandela Bay Giants

Jason Roy, Ben Dunk (wk), JJ Smuts (c), Heino Kuhn, Grant Thomson, Marco Marais, Chris Morris, Onke Nyaku, Junior Dala, Imran Tahir, Nandre Burger

PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Durban Heat

Wesley Marshall, Alex Hales, Wihan Lubbe, Dane Vilas (c, wk), David Miller, Ravi Bopara, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Abbott, Malusi Siboto

MATCH PREVIEW

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants

• Matthew Breetzke was back at the top of the order but was caught off his first ball, and the Giants might be tempted to restore Grant Thomson to the starting line-up and push Ben Dunk back up the order as a result. That was the only change from their previous win.
• Nelson Mandela Bay Giants have won three matches so far in MSL 2019 and were well on top in their other game too when rain intervened.
• Since that no result against Tshwane Spartans, the Giants have beaten both of last year’s finalists, however.
• Junior Dala and Imran Tahir took three wickets apiece to bowl Jozi Stars out for 108 before the Giants claimed a nine-wicket win in just 9.1 overs.
• Then, chasing 187 to beat Cape Town Blitz, JJ Smuts hit 73 from 51 balls and Marco Marais’ late 40* from 20 balls got them over the line with four balls and five wickets to spare.

 Durban Heat

• Durban Heat brought Wesley Marshall in at the top of the order last time out, replacing Sarel Erwee, but he was out first ball. Given the heat had been set an improbable five-over chase, however, Marshall may be given another chance.
• Marco Jansen also came into the team, replacing Prenelan Subrayen, but he bowled three wicketless overs.
• Durban Heat has suffered two total wash-outs, a defeat to Cape Town Blitz and now a no result. Their only completed game saw Wihan Lubbe smash 83 from 42 balls chasing 175 against Cape Town Blitz, but the Heat could only reach 164/7.
• Last time out, the rain had already left Durban Heat needing an improbable 66 from five overs and, when Wesley Marshall and Lubbe were out of the first two balls, they were probably grateful the rain forced a no result at 21/3 from 2.1 overs.

PROBABLE WINNING TEAM:

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants proved their quality by beating Cape Town Blitz last time out and the league leaders can extend their advantage at the top now.

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