Twitter Reactions: A spirited effort against the Giants takes the Paarl Rocks to the top

After a small interval, the Mzansi Super League (MSL) 2019 was back with the game between Nelson Mandela Bay Giants and Paarl Rocks. This was a highly anticipated encounter as these were the two teams which have done well so far. However, it didn’t go as per the expectations. Instead, it was the Paarl Rocks who steamrolled to the winning line and thus displaced the Giants from the top of the points table.

After they were asked to bat first, it took a combined effort from Paarl to get to a good score in their 20 overs. The openers failed once again for the side. While Henry Davids crawled his way to 23, Cameron Delport got out on 18. Faf du Plessis and James Vince made interesting contributions of 27 and 37 runs respectively. But none of them could go on to make it a big score. Towards the end, Ferisco Adams provided the Paarl Rocks with the final impetus. His unbeaten 12-ball 23 took the team’s score to 166/7.

The bowlers do a fabulous job for the Paarl Rocks

In the chase, Bjorn Fortuin managed to dismiss Jason Roy on the first ball of the innings. His opening partner Matthew Breetzke failed to make an impact and got out after he scored 22 off 20 balls. With captain JJ Smuts also failing at number three, the onus was on the middle-order. Ben Dunk kept them interested as long as he was there in the middle. However, he kept losing partners at the other end at regular intervals.

The pressure literally got the better of him as he got out hit-wicket after getting 45 runs. The Nelson Mandela Bay Giants were ultimately bowled out for 135 runs in 19.4 overs. Thereby, the team lost the game by 31 runs and fell to second place on the points table.

All the five bowlers for the Paarl Rocks ended up picking two wickets each. Hardus Viljoen was the most economical of the lot. The Paarl Rocks fans were delighted with this win and enjoyed the team’s performance. This, however, was the first defeat that the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants suffered in this edition of the tournament.

Here is how Twitterati reacted:

Paarl WON by 31 runs and gave Giants their first loss of #MSL2019. Brilliant bowling performance from @Paarl_Rocks sealed the win 👏 #MSLT20

— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) November 27, 2019

🔟 Missed Calls📲 From @shamsi90 to @NMB_Giants #MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/L88nbgWHQQ

— Mzansi Super League 🔥 🇿🇦 🏏 (@MSL_T20) November 27, 2019

Paarl Rocks snap the unbeaten streak.

After a good game of cricket, Paarl Rocks walk away with the W.

🚨They beat the Giants by 31 runs, the first team to do in this years #MSLT20🚨

All 5 bowlers that the Rocks used picked up 2 wickets apiece 🔥#GiantsVRocks pic.twitter.com/C2SPXNQ1Qd

— Mzansi Super League 🔥 🇿🇦 🏏 (@MSL_T20) November 27, 2019

Congrats to @Paarl_Rocks Players, Coaches, Support Staff and Team Management. #PRvNBG#MSLT20

— JaayShaan(Shankar) (@JaayShaan) November 27, 2019

The @Paarl_Rocks keep marching on! #MSLT20

— Keegan Kruger (@KeeganKruger) November 27, 2019

Good to see Ferisco Adams stepping up for the injured Dwain Pretourius. Always backed the Iceman in this format#MSLT20 #PaarlRocks

— Afzal Khan (@I_am_AfzalKhan) November 27, 2019

Paarl Rocks beat NMBG by 31 runs. Rock bowlers all getting two wickets 🔥 135/10/19.4 #mslt20 via @ESPNcricinfo pic.twitter.com/lCgSjvRXT7

— 🌍 Paul Watson (@paulmwatson) November 27, 2019

Bonus point was there for the taking but anyway. Paarl Rocks hand the Giants their first defeat. Winning by 31 runs. Well done @Paarl_Rocks 👏 #MSLT20

— Naeemah (@NaeemahBenjamin) November 27, 2019

Would 💜 to see Verreyne in the side….PaarlRocks!! #MSLT20

— Pieter Rossouw (@PieterWRoss) November 27, 2019

Shamsi showing us the importance of sunglasses in cricket. #missedcatch #glare #MSLT20 #MSL2019

— M×3 (@Mthoko_Mpofana) November 27, 2019

What a win. And in spectacular fashion too. The @Paarl_Rocks beat the NMB Giants by 31 runs with a dominant bowling display. Team gelling so good at the moment #MSLT20

— Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) November 27, 2019

I bet whoever was bowling at Paarl Rocks was bowling the usual mix of wide slower ball rubbish that seems to have become popular for no good reason, and not getting their yorkers in!

Never saw Joel Garner being top edged down to third man for 6…#Cricket #MSLT20

— James Hollands (@JamesOlympics) November 27, 2019

Well played Rocks💜, hard luck Giants 🧡🖤. #Mslt20

— Pumla Sokanyile (@PumPum8) November 27, 2019

Faf: we need a bonus point @shamsi90 : #MSLT20 @MSL_T20 pic.twitter.com/rvDTzuUmGW

— Clifford Sihlezana (@PhilaAndChill) November 27, 2019

Bonus point has eluded the Rocks yet again, how crucial would these points be at the back end of the #MSLT20 2.0

— Gontse Matea (@Gontse_Matea) November 27, 2019