Captain Faf du Plessis lamented the absence of all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius, as the Paarl Rocks suffered an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of the Tshwane Spartans in Friday’s Mzansi Super League fixture at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

The Rocks collected a final total of 126 all out, which the Spartans surpassed with 30 deliveries to spare. The result saw the Paarl franchise slip from first to third position in the 2019 tournament’s six-team standings.

Their XI was minus the services of Pretorius, who has been sidelined by a wrist injury.

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‘Dwaine will most likely be back toward the end of the tournament, maybe for the final, or perhaps a bit before, if we get there,’ said Du Plessis.

‘He is a big player for us and has been playing really well. His batting has come along really well and he is the best option in terms of the balance of the team. Our bowling is still very strong without him, but it would be nice to have him with the ball as well.’

Pretorius was a member of the Proteas’ World Cup squad in the United Kingdom earlier this year. The Rocks are also without batsmen Aiden Markram and JP Duminy, who have also been ruled out of the tournament by injury.

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