122/10 (18.1)
CR : 6.72
166/5 (20.0)
CR : 8.30
Joburg Super Kings won by 44 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Leus du Plooy
54(27)
12:31 AM IST, 9:01 PM local time: Battered, bruised, but not defeated! Against all odds, Joburg Super Kings have clinched victory to seal the final playoffs spot. Remember, they lost their skipper to an injury, then the deputy too. Plus, never in the history of SA20 had they won a match at the Boland Park. Batting coach Albie Morkel was not pretending when he said, "I feel a little anxious" during a sideline interview at the start of the game.
The nervousness only rose when they lost stand-in captain James Vince for a duck in the first over after electing to bat first. There wasn't a moment in the first innings when the fans would have felt that they had this in the bag. For the large part, they moved along like an old, rusty bicycle on a muddy road — not too different from what we have come to expect at this venue.
On offer was a typical Paarl pitch — slow, low and with the odd ball spinning viciously. Run-scoring wasn't easy. Natural stroke-makers like Michael-Kyle Pepper and Matthew de Villiers had to curb their instincts. The four-pronged spin attack of Raza, Lawrence, Fortuin and Salamkheil spun a web and JSK seemed be stuck in it for the large part. And then, came the 19th over — 6,6,4,0,1,6. Leus du Plooy launched a belligerent attack on the left arm wrist spinner. Dian Forrester played his part too and suddenly, the visitors notched up 166/5 — a score that just about felt par. It was du Plooy's 27-ball-54* that had made the difference.
While the presence of one swashbuckling lefty in the middle order helped JSK, the absence of one hurt the home team. After flaring up his groin in the first innings, David Miller left the field and never came back. Yet, with Pretorius, Lawrence, Potgieter and Raza among others in their line-up, Royals would have fancied their chances of gunning the target down.
However, Super Kings' spinners spun a web of their own. While Prenelan Subrayen might have ended up with the best figures, it was the 46-year-old youngster who paved the way with some crucial breakthroughs. Imran Tahir accounted for the dismissals of Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Delano Potgieter at crucial junctures and tipped the scale in his team's favour. Wiaan Mulder, Akeal Hosein and Nandre Burger too played their part.
The only real innings of substance came from the bat of Daniel Lawrence, who struck an impressive 29-ball-45. Alas, without much support, he could not get his side home. Apart from Du Plooy's blitzkrieg and some tidy bowling, JSK's fielding too was an important aspect of this victorious performance.
With this, DSG too are now eliminated.
The nervousness only rose when they lost stand-in captain James Vince for a duck in the first over after electing to bat first. There wasn't a moment in the first innings when the fans would have felt that they had this in the bag. For the large part, they moved along like an old, rusty bicycle on a muddy road — not too different from what we have come to expect at this venue.
On offer was a typical Paarl pitch — slow, low and with the odd ball spinning viciously. Run-scoring wasn't easy. Natural stroke-makers like Michael-Kyle Pepper and Matthew de Villiers had to curb their instincts. The four-pronged spin attack of Raza, Lawrence, Fortuin and Salamkheil spun a web and JSK seemed be stuck in it for the large part. And then, came the 19th over — 6,6,4,0,1,6. Leus du Plooy launched a belligerent attack on the left arm wrist spinner. Dian Forrester played his part too and suddenly, the visitors notched up 166/5 — a score that just about felt par. It was du Plooy's 27-ball-54* that had made the difference.
While the presence of one swashbuckling lefty in the middle order helped JSK, the absence of one hurt the home team. After flaring up his groin in the first innings, David Miller left the field and never came back. Yet, with Pretorius, Lawrence, Potgieter and Raza among others in their line-up, Royals would have fancied their chances of gunning the target down.
However, Super Kings' spinners spun a web of their own. While Prenelan Subrayen might have ended up with the best figures, it was the 46-year-old youngster who paved the way with some crucial breakthroughs. Imran Tahir accounted for the dismissals of Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Delano Potgieter at crucial junctures and tipped the scale in his team's favour. Wiaan Mulder, Akeal Hosein and Nandre Burger too played their part.
The only real innings of substance came from the bat of Daniel Lawrence, who struck an impressive 29-ball-45. Alas, without much support, he could not get his side home. Apart from Du Plooy's blitzkrieg and some tidy bowling, JSK's fielding too was an important aspect of this victorious performance.
With this, DSG too are now eliminated.
David Miller (Paarl Royals Captain): "We will see tomorrow but not ideal. It always gets better at night. Looking at the situation, maybe they scored 25 too many. I still felt it was gettable. We lost wickets at wrong times and it cost us. We have done well at the Highveld this year.
Proud of what we put in the group stage. We shift our focus to the play-offs now and sure the boys will be ready. Always thankful for everyone to come out and support us. After the first loss, 49 all-out, we really bounced back. Looking forward to meet everyone next year."
Proud of what we put in the group stage. We shift our focus to the play-offs now and sure the boys will be ready. Always thankful for everyone to come out and support us. After the first loss, 49 all-out, we really bounced back. Looking forward to meet everyone next year."
Time for the Post-match Presentation!
Leus du Plooy gets the 'Game Changer of the Match' award.
Imran Tahir gets the 'Moneyball Saver of the Match' award.
Dan Lawrence gets the 'Dispatch of the Day' award.
James Vince (Joburg Super Kings Captain): "Lots of relief. Do or die game, we have had a bit of tough run. Delighted to remain in the competition. Yeah they did. Batting first, you have to assess the conditions. The way Leus du Plooy finished off the innings with a strike-rate of 200 was outstanding.
The ball didn't quite rag but it was still tricky to bat on. Feedback from the guys was top of off was effective, the spinners did a very good job too. Yeah, great to be in the competition and going back to conditions a bit more familiar for us."
The ball didn't quite rag but it was still tricky to bat on. Feedback from the guys was top of off was effective, the spinners did a very good job too. Yeah, great to be in the competition and going back to conditions a bit more familiar for us."
Player of the Match: Leus du Plooy
Lues du Plooy (Player of the Match): "The plan was really simple. We wanted to take it as deep as possible. On a wicket like that, when you have wickets in hand, anything can happen. I'll put it down to having played here before. The experience tells you that you can take the time and make up towards the end. Young Neil Timmers stepped up. His 30-odd gave us a platform. We had one of the best powerplay we have ever had at Paarl. Matthew de Villiers's contribution was crucial too. I love playing at Paarl, feel grateful for it. Great crowd."
Scarred but still standing — Joburg Super Kings win against all odds to seal a win in their final league stage game and thereby a playoffs spot too. With this, Durban Super Giants are knocked out too and for the first time in the history of SA20, we will witness a final sans an Aiden-Markram-led side.
However, one of the major talking points going forward will be David Miller's injury. Will he be fit again in time when Royals clash against the same opponent in the Eliminator? His men will be thirsty for revenge come that fixture on Thursday, January 22.
But before that, we will have Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Pretoria Capitals in Qualifier 1 on Wednesday, January 21. Of course, Team Crickxo will be there to call the action.
Do join us then. For now, this is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Karthik Raj and Yogesh Kumar signing off. Ciao!
However, one of the major talking points going forward will be David Miller's injury. Will he be fit again in time when Royals clash against the same opponent in the Eliminator? His men will be thirsty for revenge come that fixture on Thursday, January 22.
But before that, we will have Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Pretoria Capitals in Qualifier 1 on Wednesday, January 21. Of course, Team Crickxo will be there to call the action.
Do join us then. For now, this is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Karthik Raj and Yogesh Kumar signing off. Ciao!