Joburg Super Kings kept their playoff hopes alive in the SA20 with a crucial victory over table-toppers Paarl Royals at the Wanderers on Thursday. Despite remaining in fourth place, they are now level on 19 points with third-placed Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who hold a slight edge due to having earned more bonus points.
Leading from the front, captain Faf du Plessis played a match-winning knock of 87 off 55 balls, including four boundaries and seven sixes, as the Super Kings chased down the Royals’ total of 150/9 with seven wickets in hand. Du Plessis expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, acknowledging the importance of the win in keeping their playoff hopes alive. He praised the quality of the chase, especially considering the tricky conditions at the Wanderers.
The key difference between the two sides was the Super Kings’ strong start. Du Plessis and Devon Conway (20 off 25 balls) laid a solid foundation with a 54-run opening partnership. In contrast, the Royals suffered an early blow when Sam Hain, who replaced Joe Root in the lineup, was dismissed off just the second ball of the innings. Du Plessis emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the Powerplay and not allowing the score to stagnate in the first six overs.
The Super Kings’ bowling attack was led by Donovan Ferreira, who claimed 3/23, and Lutho Sipamla, who impressed with figures of 3/19, taking his tally to 11 wickets in the tournament. The Royals’ innings saw small contributions from Lhuan-dre Pretorius (19 off 11 balls) and Rubin Hermann (28 off 26 balls), but the standout performer was Dinesh Karthik, who fought a lone battle with his maiden SA20 half-century (53 off 39 balls).
The Royals were without key players Joe Root and captain David Miller, the latter missing the game due to the birth of his first child. Stand-in skipper Bjorn Fortuin highlighted the positives, noting that the match provided valuable game time for players who had not featured much in the tournament. He acknowledged the challenging batting conditions, which made aggressive stroke play risky.
With this result, Paarl Royals have already secured their place in Qualifier 1, where they will face MI Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on February 4. The winner of that match will advance directly to the final at the Wanderers on February 8. Meanwhile, the race for the remaining two playoff spots continues between Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Joburg Super Kings, and Pretoria Capitals.
The Capitals face a must-win clash against MI Cape Town at Centurion on Friday, followed by a key showdown between Sunrisers and Paarl Royals in Gqeberha on Saturday. The teams finishing in third and fourth place will battle in the Eliminator at Centurion on February 5, with the winner advancing to Qualifier 2 the following day to face the loser of Qualifier 1.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.