good length on middle, and that's been tickled off his body to fine leg for a single. Spartans win by four wickets!
Rocks vs Spartans, 21st Match at Centurion, MSL 2018, Dec 05 2018 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Spartans won by 4 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
5.30pm That's all from us at ESPNcricinfo. See you in 30 minutes for the day's second game. Till then, it's goodbye from us.
5.14pm That was close, wasn't it? Before Robbie Frylinck's two boundaries in the final over, it looked like Paarl Rocks had done just about enough to sneak in with a victory. But Dane Paterson failed to hold his nerve with the ball, and the Spartans are still alive in the tournament. Reactions and presentation to follow
Faf du Plessis: "That first six overs, the wickets were slow. My assessment was that we could score boundaries, which is why we played that way. The wicket wasn't a 90 for 5 wicket, but I'm proud of the fight shown by the bowlers. We got three tough games coming up, but if you want to make it to the semi-finals, then you need to beat the best teams. But it's still in our hands."
AB de Villiers: "We'll take the win. Wasn't a pretty game of cricket. Both batting sides will be disappointed. I think it was a 150-odd wicket, but we'll take this. We go to PE now to play one of the top sides of the tournament. We have some unfinished business with them after a close defeat last time. Got one more home game next week. Faf and I have come a long way together. Was great to be on the field with him. Shamsi is one of the best wristspinners, according to me."
Lutho Sipamla is the Man of the Match. He says, "always been a good for me to play for the Proteas. I'm looking to do better things, and have been learning so much from seniors like Frylinck. AB tells me to stay cool, calm and collected in the field. Calms me down as a bowler."
Tabraiz Shamsi: "Not great losing a game of cricket. We were short with the runs, but the guys showed some fight. AB's a legend, he's a once-in-a-generation kind of player, so his wicket is memorable. But a bit sad that we couldn't win. I always try and put in big performances for the team. A lot of positive sides, we've still got three more games."
Samrat Ahuja: "Frylinck, you beauty!! Always reminded me of Eddo Brandes! Wonder why he never made to IPL, with his all round abilities! Did very well in Champions League in India too!!"
drilled to long on! And Frylinck is the hero for Spartans! Scores tied. Overpitched once again, and Frylinck uses all his muscle to smash the ball back past the bowler
Varun Desai: "Louis I agree, that's why so many of us wanted to Faf to take over and he's doing a super job."
right into the sightscreen! Oh my my. Full on middle stump, and he clears the front leg to smash the ball over long on. In the slot, and punished
full outside off stump, and he drills this down the ground to long on. Spartans need 11 off six
slower ball, length ball, and he looks to pull from outside the stumps. Deceived by the lack of pace, and the shot has been scooped straight to deep midwicket
yorker outside off once again, and this has been flayed to backward point
good length ball outside off, and he tries to pull. But the ball sneaks under his bat and hits the keeper's pads. The ball rolls away towards third man but Frylinck says no to the run
big appeal for lbw, but not given! Full on middle, and he tries to scoop it through the keeper's left. But he's been deceived by the slower ball, and the ball hits his boot. That looked out, but DJ cannot believe his luck
yorker wide outside off, and he steers a shot to deep point for a single
Spartans need 15 off 12.
full just outside off stump, and the slapped shot to cover is intercepted inside the circle!
Louis: "ABD is so frustrating, he should've promoted himself to 3 and taken the game by the scruff of the neck. Best batsman I've ever seen, but not a great captain."
full on middle, and driven down the ground to long on
full outside off once again, but this time Wiese's delivery goes over the tram-lines. Gotta bowl that again
full outside off, and angling further away. The batsman gives the bowler a charge, but he's nowhere near the delivery because of the bowler's angle
Spartans need 18 off 16
full on off stump, and that's been dragged from outside the wickets to deep midwicket. Hit so poorly, that it actually allows them to pinch the second run
length ball angling in, and flicked away to deep midwicket
full and wide outside off, and he slashes a square drive through the point region. Protection in the deep though
attempted yorker on middle that's been shoveled over the bowler's head. Mid off cuts it off as Spartans reach 100
full on middle, and Frylinck shuffles across to drive down the ground. Long on intercepts
full outside off stump, and in the slot to be hammered. Connects well with the cover drive as well, but it finds the only infielder on the off side