An orange sea of support is the much sought-after item on Black Friday as NMB Giants host Durban Heat in their first home game of the Mzansi Super League T20 at St George’s Park in the evening.
The Giants’ management have been itching to get back to Port Elizabeth and play their first match of the tournament and have requested the public to come out, show “Giants gees” and support the squad in team colours.
After two away games to open the tournament, the side will be banking on vocal Bay support to carry them to an important home win against a Proteas-laden Heat outfit.
Matters did not go according to plan in the defeat to the Cape Town Blitz on Wednesday, though the Giants did end up quite close to their revised target, losing by only 12 runs.
But, on reflection, they will identify their bowling, with the exception of Imran Tahir, as the main reason for the loss and will look to rectify that against the Heat.
“We probably didn’t bowl at our best,” captain Jon-Jon Smuts said.
“It was tough, and the way they bowled in the first six was exceptional. Dale [Steyn] was very good. A few disruptions didn’t help us.”
Smuts was referring to the floodlight failure during the Giants’ chase with the bat at Newlands which saw their innings reduced by four overs and their target readjusted.
Tahir, who had earlier conceded only 18 runs in his four overs, agreed with Smuts.
“It was a great game and from a personal point of view, a good challenge. The better team won but we came close.
“I think if we had a full game I was backing our boys to get that total.”
Giants batsman Heino Kuhn was the other bright light on the evening, making a fighting, aggressive half-century despite sustaining a sickening blow to the helmet off the bowling of Steyn.
Englishman Ben Duckett continued to impress in making a quick 23 and he will be wanting to light St George’s Park up on his home debut.
Chris Morris showed glimpses of exactly why he is a sought-after seamer in this version of the game and he, too, will be chasing a solid performance on Friday.
Once again, the Giants will need to be up for the fight against a team that includes the likes of Hashim Amla, Heinrich Klaassen, David Miller, Kyle Abbott, Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj.