Joburg Super Kings stay alive in SA20 League after trouncing Paarl Royals

By Administrator
7th February 2024

The Joburg Super Kings romped to an emphatic nine-wicket victory over the Paarl Royals at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Super Kings live to fight another day and will face the Durban Super Giants on Thursday for a place in Saturday's final against the Eastern Cape Sunrisers, while the Royals are eliminated.

Sam Cooke excelled with the ball for the Super Kings, while Imran Tahir took two magnificent catches and two crucial wickets with ball in hand. Leus du Plooy and Faf du Plessis were unforgiving as they made a mockery of the chase.

The Joburgers won the toss and chose to bowl on an absolute belter of a pitch at the Bullring. It means Royals captain David Miller has won only one toss in 10 in this year's competition and just two over the last two editions.

Jos Buttler and Jason Roy began in typically brutish fashion. Buttler had just hit Sam Cooke over his head for a six when the very next ball the England short-form captain recklessly nicked one behind playing a lap shot.

Two balls later Cook got Mitchell van Buuren to top-edge one to a deeper fine leg as Imran Tahir belied his 44 years of age with a worldie of a catch running back towards the boundary. Roy took Doug Bracewell for 13 the next over but the following over Nandre Burger sent Roy and Wihaan Lubbe back to the pavilion with a double strike.

It saw David Miller come to the crease perhaps a bit earlier than he is used to. Tahir took another stunning catch to dismiss Vilas as wickets began to fall around Miller, who Tahir eventually got out caught behind for a high score of 47 off 40. Cook wrapped up the innings with two in three balls to finish with 4/24 as the visitors were bowled out for a sub-par 138.

The home side made a mockery of the chase and indicated what a good batting pitch it was which would have left the Royals sick to their stomachs for not having cashed in. Leus du Plooy (68 off 43 balls) and Faf du Plessis (55 off 34 balls) put together a blistering opening stand of 105 as Du Plessis carried his bat accompanied by Reeza Hendricks (5).