Three teams jostle for SA20 last play-off spot
● MI Cape Town, the Pretoria Capitals and the Joburg Super Kings (JSK) are locked in a tight battle for the last play-off spot after yesterday’s matches in the SA20.
With three matches each left to play, just two points separate the three teams who are in a desperate scramble for a qualification spot in the top four of the competition.
Durban’s Super Giants (23 log points) and Paarl Royals (22) are sure bets for a spot in the top four, while the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (17) are not far off.
The Pretoria Capitals and JSK were forced to share the points when their game got washed out at Centurion last night..
Earlier in the day, MI Cape Town missed the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the two struggling Gauteng teams when they narrowly lost to the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
The Pretoria Capitals and the JSK started their match in the knowledge they could put the team from the Western Cape behind them on the points table but their match came to an abrupt halt at 5.55pm due to a considerable Highveld storm.
JSK, who were put in to bat, had 44/2 after 4.4 overs when the covers were brought on. Captain Faf du Plessis — who looked hellbent on smashing his way into form — had 25 off 12 balls when play stopped.
The result means JSK are still at the bottom of the table, and organisers will be left with lingering unease as two knockout matches have been earmarked for the Wanderers as the competition nears a climax.
The third and fourth placed teams square off in an eliminator there on February 7, with the winner destined to play the loser of the Cape Town qualifier in Johannesburg a day later.
There is, however, slightly less angst about who qualifies for the final in Cape Town on February 10. General access tickets for the final at Newlands have been sold out, but some hospitality packages are still available.
MI Cape Town yesterday failed to enhance their chances of playing in the climax of the tournament. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape edged them out by four runs in Gqeberha.
The innings was built around man of the match Tom Abell’s 60 off 44 balls as the home side amassed 175/6.
He was ably assisted by captain Aiden Markram, who shared in a 63-run partnership with Abell but they were separated in the 15th over.
Tristan Stubbs, striking at 176 for his 23, provided a sting in the tail. Kagiso Rabada’s 2/26 was the best return with the ball but he did not bowl his full complement.
Though Rababa’s figures were impressive, George Linde’s 0/23 in four overs proved more effective, slamming the brakes on the Sunrisers’ innings. In their chase, MI Cape Town suffered a severe body blow early on. Their opening pair had set the tournament ablaze in the opening weeks but their form appear inextricably linked to that of the team.
Rassie van der Dussen was run out at the end of the second over but Ryan Rickelton kept hopes up until he fell for 27 off 20 balls. He was not the only MI Cape Town batter that failed to deliver on early promise. It was a batting effort that lacked real substance as Liam Livingstone (26), Tom Curran (30), Kieron Pollard (30) and Dewald Brevis (30) all huffed and puffed without blowing the Sunrisers’ house down.
Pollard brought the visitors within one blow of victory but he was run out off the second last ball. Ottniel Baartman continued his splendid form in the competition, taking 2/24 in his four overs.