Twitter Reactions: Spartans go down in their first home game by 7 runs courtesy DLS method

If not the one-sided encounters, the Mzansi Super League (MSL) has been interrupted by the rain frequently in the last few days. This time around it has hurt AB de Villiers‘ Tshwane Spartans who lost the game by seven runs after batting for only 5.1 overs in the chase. This was their first home game and have now lost three matches after playing four encounters in the tournament.

After being invited to bat first, the Giants got off a flyer. JJ Smuts and Marco Marais added 40 runs in less than five overs. But the former fell for 19 and then began their slide. The middle-order crumbled like a pack of cards even as Marais kept on playing his shots. But Lutho Simapla castled him in the 15th over and this is where, brakes were apllied on the run-scoring.

They were 112/5 after 15 overs and some exceptional death bowling from the Spartans led to the Giants crawling their way towards 143/9 in 20 overs. Rudi Second played a decent knock of 26 off 17 balls and it was him who propelled them to that total while the hosts saw Jeevan Mendis picking four wickets for 22 runs in his four overs. Simapla assisted him well by picking three wickets for 29 runs during his spell.

DLS ruins the chase

With the rain around, the Spartans needed to plan their chase accordingly. But Junior Dala brought his express pace to the fore to snaffled Gihahn Cloete in his very first over after which Magala sent back the dangerous Tony de Zorzi. At 34/2, AB de Villiers came out to bat and took a single off his very first delivery to retain strike for the next over.

However, the great batsman was pinned in front of the stumps by Carmi le Roux to reduced the Spartans to 35/3 and then the heavens opened up to interrupt the play. Unfortunately for the Spartans, the play never resumed and they lost the game by seven runs. The biggest irony for the home team was De Villiers’ wicket. If he wasn’t dismissed off that delivery, the match would’ve ended in a tie.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the game:

📢 GAME OVER. @NMB_Giants win by 7 runs on D/L method. A real pity that the rain came because it was setting up to be a great match. Well done to both teams on a really entertaining game! 🏏 pic.twitter.com/bGKlxPKE2q

— Mzansi Super League 🔥 🇿🇦 🏏 (@MSL_T20) November 25, 2018

Had the game been called off two balls earlier, this would be a no result. Also, AB de Villiers got out on the last ball (with a stupid paddle sweep off the second ball of his innings) before the rain arrived.

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) November 25, 2018

Is it too difficult for you to understand that your fans wait so much for you to come and play?
The target is normal, you've enough time, then why you have to start your circus from the starting only?
Respect your fans atleast 🙏😭@ABdeVilliers17 #MSLT20

— Pratichi Gupta (@Pratichi_Gupta) November 25, 2018

@ABdeVilliers17 Ye kya kar rahe ho 😤

— fernweh (@justacrazyass) November 25, 2018

Retire from all shit & play golf man @ABdeVilliers17 if you're batting without brain,don't go down like Baz. Nonsense.

— arfan. (@Im__Arfan) November 25, 2018

The @PoweradeZA Man of the Match is Marco Marais for his impressive 47 off 41 balls. pic.twitter.com/SZyN62r1LI

— Mzansi Super League 🔥 🇿🇦 🏏 (@MSL_T20) November 25, 2018

This is not a real game . Just fixing. They know rain will started soon and then the wct is gone. How funny.

— Arif islam (@Arifislam009) November 25, 2018

All I want is to see AB de Villiers play but he keeps getting out smh still love him tho

— Livanya (@Livanyagramoney) November 25, 2018

Rain plays the spoil sport again as match 10 ends way too early. @NMB_Giants have won this contest by 7 runs (DLS Method). A rather disappointing day for the @SpartansMSLT20 & the fans who turned out at Centurion. #MSLT20 #ITWMSL #MzansiSuperLeague pic.twitter.com/p0IXAUmALz

— ITW Sports (@ITWSports) November 25, 2018

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants win against the Tshwane Spartans via DLS. 3 wins and 2nd on the log 💃🏾💃🏾 Beware the underdog #MSLT20

— Thato (@ThatoMamathuba) November 25, 2018

Nuts that the Spartans lost those last two wickets, with clouds on the horizon.
These weather margins in the #MSLT20 are tighter than an Irish scrum. It's harsh. But everyone knows the rules.

— Lungani Zama (@whamzam17) November 25, 2018

What a stupid game! #MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/sy3QAdPG04

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) November 25, 2018

Well done done @Carmi_Le_Roux, not many young cricketers can say they halted an AB machine. Well done, bud. #MSLT20

— Kate Nokwe (@This_Kate) November 25, 2018