Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis’ 92 runs propelled his side to a 24 runs win over the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the Betway SA20 yesterday at the Wanderers.
The weather in Johannesburg was sunny, as opposed to Friday when it decided to wash out the game between the Super Kings and Paarl Royals.
Given how good the weather was, spectators came out in numbers, filling up the stands, wearing the yellow colours of the Super Kings, showing how the people of Johannesburg have taken the team to heart.
Du Plessis took to the crease with Reeza Hendricks after winning the toss and chose to bat; they looked to put the Super Kings on the front foot. The two openers managed to put together a solid stand of 48 in the powerplay as they looked to accelerate the innings.
They stayed at the crease for 14 overs, putting on the board 119 thanks to good cricket shots and quick running between the wickets. Their partnership was disrupted by Brydon Carse, who took out Hendricks for 40 from 36 balls, leaving Du Plessis on 79.
With the platform laid for the middle-order to come in and play big shots to add to the scoreline, they instead fumbled and a middle-order collapse followed.
Sunrisers captain Aiden Markram got the scalps of Matthew Wade and Donovan Ferreira, with Marco Jansen and Sissanda Magala removing Leus du Plooy and Romario Shepherd; they all went out for single digits
With wickets falling around him, at 92 from 62 balls Du Plessis was staring at his second century in the SA20, however Mgala had other ideas as he removed him with the last ball of the 19th over. The Super Kings finished with a total of 160 for 6, leaving the Sunrisers to chase 161 to win the match.
Given the low total they had to defend, the Super Kings bowlers kept things tight, nicking in wickets at crucial times to disrupt the Sunrisers’ innings.
The Super Kings bowling was devastating, spinner Kyle Simmonds was the pick of the bowlers as he got three wickets, and Maheesh Theekshana, Gerald Coetzee and Shepherd got two each. The Sunrisers finished the innings with 135-9.
Proteas limited overs captain Temba Bavuma was the only positive from the Sunrisers innings as he got 50 from 33 balls and was given a loud standing ovation by the Bullring faithful.
The win sees the Super Kings secure their place in the last four of the tournament. They will play the last game of the regular season when they host MI Cape Town today at the Wanderers (5.30pm).
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