The Durban Heat are facing an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs after suffering a nine-wicket loss to the Paarl Rocks in the heat of Paarl.
Sarel Erwee and Morne van Wyk got the Heat innings off to a great start, scoring 65 off seven overs before Erwee was out after a well-played 32 off 22 balls (3×4, 2×6, S/R 145.45).
Van Wyk fell a few overs later for 33 off 26 balls (3×4), but the Heat lost the wickets of big-hitting David Miller (1), Heinrich Klaasen (4) and Albie Morkel (8) to leave them five down for 105, with less than five overs in hand.
Khaya Zondo (38 not out off 34 balls, 3×4, S/R 111.76) and Vernon Philander (30 off 16 balls, 3×4, 1×6, S/R 187.50) added 49 for the sixth wicket off 4.3 overs as the Heat ended on 154-6 off their 20 overs.
Tabraiz Shamsi was great value with the ball, taking 2-20 (econ 5.00), while Bjorn Fortuin, Tshepo Moreki, David Wiese and Grant Thomson each took a wicket.
In response, the Rocks lost Henry Davids to an unfortunate injury with his score on two and the total 8-0, after which Aiden Markram and his Proteas and Rocks skipper Faf du Plessis took the score to 76 before Markram was stumped for a well-played 48 off 39 balls (6×4).
Player of the Match Du Plessis (76 not out off 48 balls, 9×4) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (28 not out off 23 balls, 1×4) saw the Rocks through to 158-1 off 19.1 overs for an emphatic nine-wicket win.
Brandon Mavuta was the only bowler to enjoy success for the Heat, taking 1-32 off his four overs (econ 8.00).
It was the Rocks’ third win from six and sees them well placed to push for a top-three spot, while the Heat are propping up the log and will likely need a win from each of their remaining four matches if they hope to get through to the playoff stage.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
