AB de Villiers is enjoying his Mzansi Super League (MSL) experience with the Tshwane Spartans this season, saying he was pleased to be part of a such a good group of players as they prepare to step up their bid to reach the play-offs on Friday.

The Centurion-based outfit welcome the log-leading Paarl Rocks to SuperSport Park for the clash, with victory for the unbeaten host – the only side that has yet to taste defeat in 2019 – a must if they want to stay in the hunt for a direct ticket to next month’s final.

The Spartans are currently third on the table after beating rivals the Jozi Stars in their derby clash on Sunday. Their 14 points are five fewer than the Rocks and second-placed Nelson Mandela Bay Giants (both 19).

Former Proteas captain and star Tshwane batsman De Villiers is happy with their latest result over the weekend.

“We’re a very competitive group at the Spartans this year and it was great to see in the last game, and in others too, that when you give us an opportunity everyone gets stuck in. It was a very good win against Jozi Stars in the last game,” he said earlier this week.

Last year De Villiers captained the Spartans, but they endured a miserable campaign by finishing second bottom on the table.

But for MSL 2.0, Mark Boucher’s side have looked a transformed unit under the leadership of Heinrich Klaasen. This despite the rain doing its best to derail them – three of their five games have been no results.

“The rained out games certainly didn’t help us. Who has appeared more relaxed since relinquishing the captaincy, adds. When we hopefully lift the trophy in a few weeks’ time we’ll may be look back and say they did help us, but certainly when you work so hard to prepare, you just want to get out there and win games of cricket,” De Villiers explained.

He did get his MSL season going in the last game by recording his first half-century of the competition.

The squads for Friday’s game at SuperSport Park, which will start at 17:30, are:

The Tshwane Spartans: AB de Villiers, Tom Curran, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi, Heinrich Klassen (capt), Theunis de Bruyn, Roelof van der Merwe, Lutho Sipamla, Pite van Biljon, Tony de Zorzi, Waqar Salamkheil, Dean Elgar, Wiaan Mulder, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Corbin Bosch, Donovan Ferreira.

The Paarl Rocks: Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Verreynne, Bjorn Fortuin, James Vince, Dwaine Pretorius, Cameron Delport, Isuru Udana, Tabraiz Shamsi, Hardus Viljoen, Sibonelo Makhanya, Henry Davids, Ruan de Swardt, Mangaliso Mosehle, Ferisco Adams, Kerwin Mungroo, Thando Ntini.

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