Super Kings are still in the hunt
SA20: JOBURG SIDE CRUSH PAARL ROYALS IN ELIMINATOR
The Joburg Super Kings delivered with bat and ball last night, keeping their SA20 title hopes alive by charging to a nine-wicket victory in their eliminator play-off against the Paarl Royals at the Wanderers.
Needing 139 to win, the Super Kings were relentless in their chase, racing to a comfortable win with 40 balls to spare.
Opening batter Leus du Plooy was particularly impressive, and with experienced Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis holding fort at the other end, he was able to launch an explosive assault.
Du Plooy smashed 68 off 43 balls (with seven fours and two sixes), and after Tabraiz Shamsi had him caught behind by Jos Buttler in the 11th over, Du Plessis carried his team over the line.
The skipper made an unbeaten 55, after facing 44 deliveries, guiding the Super Kings to 139/1.
The Royals attack struggled to gain any control over the hosts. Shamsi grabbed their only scalp and none of their bowlers went for less than eight runs an over.
Earlier, after being sent in to bat, the Royals were well contained by the Super Kings attack, led by frontline bowlers Sam Cook and Nandre Burger.
The Paarl side struggled to build partnerships in the early stages of their innings, and though they managed to keep the run-rate up, they found themselves in some trouble at 43/4 after five overs.
Middle-order batter David Miller managed to stick his heels in at the crease, but he did not receive enough support.
Miller hit 47 runs off 40 deliveries in an effort to try and hold his team together, but he was dismissed in the 17th over and the visitors were bowled out for 138 in the penultimate over of their innings.
Cook took 4/24 and Burger returned 3/26, laying the foundation of their team’s victory in the crunch encounter.
Following the defeat, the Royals were eliminated from the competition, while the Super Kings will now face Durban’s Super Giants in a final qualifier at the Wanderers today (5.30pm start) for a spot in this weekend’s final.
The losing team in today’s fixture will be knocked out, while the winning side will set themselves up to face Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the trophy decider at Newlands on Saturday.