shares
Asif Ali produced a performance for the ages, shellacking a 33-ball 80, as Cape Town Blitz turned the tables on Durban Heat in a stunning chase at Kingsmead. This innings was a clinic, really, embodying all the attributes that define T20 batsmanship: flair, skill, daring, power, and creativity of the highest order. Asif’s innings was the life jacket Blitz needed, after they had been reduced to 83 for 5 by Keshav Maharaj’s crafty spin; by the time he was finished, Asif had slashed the required rate from a hefty 12.40 to a run a ball. An excellent 19th over by Marchant de Lange left Heat clinging on to a tiny ray of hope, but it was dashed first ball of the next over, when Kyle Abbott overpitched outside off and Malusi Siboto crunched a cover drive to all but seal the game.
Full report to follow
Akshay Gopalakrishnan is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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