Twitter Reactions: Asif Ali's blitzkrieg helps Cape Town Blitz clinch the thriller

The third game of the ongoing Mzansi Super League (MSL) saw the Durban Heat locking horns against the Cape Town Blitz at the Kingsmead. While the visitors were coming off a scintillating victory over the the Spartans, the Heat were making their debut this season. The game went down to the wire as the thriller was won by the Blitz thanks to a crazy cameo by Pakistan cricketer Asif Ali.

After being invited to bat first, Durban got off to a decent start. Morne van Wyk took the attack to the opposition as he added 41 runs along with Hashim Amla within six overs. Just when it felt like they had a platform to launch, Anrich Nortje came up with a superb spell of bowling. He made the ball talk big time and sent back three batsmen in the same over and then again snaffled Temba Bavuma in his next over to reduced them to 48/4 from 41/0.

The home side lost all the momentum gained by the openers but there was a certain Khaya Zondo who didn’t give up. He and Albie Morkel resurrected the innings even as the latter tore apart the bowling attack with his 49 off just 25 cherries. But Zondo was the key for Heat as his late hitting propelled them to a competitive total of 156 runs for the loss of seven wickets after 20 overs.

Ali stuns the hosts

Cape Town Blitz needed a good start to chase down the middling total but the bowlers of Heat kept it tight despite not being able to pick the wickets. The runrate was not going above which kept on increasing the pressure on them and Keshav Maharaj reaped rich rewards for the same. He took three wickets in no time as the Blitz were struggling at 83/5 in the 14th over.

It seemed that all had lost for them in the game and would be playing for the net run-rate now. But Asif Ali who joined the squad just before this encounter, had other plans. He shifted gears suddenly to catch everyone by surprise and literally thumped the ball with utter disdain. In no time, he notched up his half-century and in the 17th over, clinched the game completely from the opposition.

However, after scoring 84 off 33 balls, he was sent back by Marchant de Lange to bring interest in the game. But it was too late by then and the lower-order batsmen completed the chase in the last over. It was a sensational victory for the Blitz as in both the matches so far, two Pakistani players have come to the fore for them winning the Man of the Match performances.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the game:

Meanwhile in the Msanzi Super League in Durban, Asif Ali has smashed 80 off only 33 balls, including 7 fours and 5 sixes for Cape Town Blitz against Durban Heat #MSLT20 #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 18, 2018

#MSLT20 JP Duminy’s future as a talent scout looks good…. Mohammed Nawaz with a MoM performance on Friday and then amatch winning innings from Asif Ali today.

Quality start for the @CT_Blitz against two solid teams.

— Carl Lewis (@Carl_LewisZA) November 18, 2018

Monstrous hitting from Asif Ali for Cape Town Blitz in the Mzansi Super League: he arrived at the crease with 108 needed off 69 balls & left with 15 needed off 15 after scoring 80 off 33 balls. Asif's True Run Rate of +3.13 in overs 16-20 is the third best of all time. #MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/H2Qn9pxJsP

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) November 18, 2018

Cape Town Blitz scored 93 runs in 9 overs when Asif Ali was at the crease. Asif Ali alone scored 80 off 33 balls while others scored 12 runs off 21 balls (1 wide). #MSLT20 #DHvCTB

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) November 18, 2018

Asif Ali is spanking spinners for fun here. Turns into a sitting duck vs spinners at the intl stage.

— – (@omairraslam) November 18, 2018

Asif Ali should be the man of the match, no hard feelings to Anrich Nortje. What a game of cricket today! #MSLT20

— Gontse Matea (@Gontse_Matea) November 18, 2018

Cape Town won the 1st match
M Nawaz 🇵🇰 was man of the match

Cape Town 2nd match won
Asif Ali 🇵🇰 is man of the match#PAKvNZ 🏏

— աαզαs 🇵🇰🏏 (@iCricketFreak) November 18, 2018

Asif ali is one hell of a batsman…i think he made everyone forger about nortjie's fantastic bowling #MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/0oE2wPQEnA

— A-damn (@Lesiba_str8) November 18, 2018

Come on!! No ball to end the game?? Nonetheless what a game!! #MSLT20 @StarsJozi @durban_heat Anrich Nortje my MotM! But Asif Ali played a blinder…#MSLT20

— Phumudzo Tshiovhe (@Shepherd015) November 18, 2018

MSLT20: Asif Ali's 80 (33) helps Cape Town Blitz won by 3 wickets. #MSLT20 #AsifAli pic.twitter.com/JE6kG7G8nH

— Zohaib Ahmed17🏏 (@iamzuhaib77) November 18, 2018

Mohammad Nawaz in the last game and Asif Ali today, Pakistan boys shining for Capetown Blitz #MSLT20

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) November 18, 2018

Pakistani players playing some good cricket in Mzansi Super League. First M. Nawaz and now Asif Ali melting the iron with bat.
Good batting!#MSL

— Malik Usman (@Malikusman1145) November 18, 2018

80* – the highest score of the tournament so far, but Asif Ali is now out for 80 off 33. CTB should win this thanks to Ali's incredible innings. 15 off 15 #MSLT20

— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) November 18, 2018