Fast bowler Kyle Abbott was pleased to exchange a poor performance against the Cape Town Blitz for a Man of the Match showing in Wednesday’s key Mzansi Super League fixture against the Tshwane Spartans.

Abbott proved ineffective and expensive in defeat to the Blitz at Kingsmead last week, but clinched a telling four-wicket haul in victory over the Spartans at the same venue. He was well supported by fellow seamer Marchant de Lange, who proved economical, but only managed one wicket.

‘There were few new nerves coming into the game after that match on Sunday. Fortunately it worked right for me here. Marchant deserved a few more wickets,’ said Abbott.

‘We didn’t have the best time on Sunday, but we rectified it all – and it was really good to see that. We have a great mixture of guys in our team, but we haven’t played our best game as yet. We need the momentum and a couple of good wins in a row will give us that.’

Defeated Tshwane captain AB de Villiers praised Abbott and host skipper Albie Morkel, whose late-innings cameo effectively pushed the Heat ahead of the required run rate in the rain-affected fixture.

‘A lot of credit goes to them. They played really good cricket throughout the game. I thought we got really close, but Albie and Kyle took the game away from us. Basically, we were outplayed in the big moments,’ concluded De Villiers.

Image: Gallo