SA20: Super Giants thrash Royals, Capitals mount big recovery to beat Super Kings

Markram masterclass keeps Super Giants dream alive

Durban's Super Giants kept their SA20 playoff hopes alive with a commanding 58-run victory over Paarl Royals at Kingsmead, driven by a superb all-round display from captain Aiden Markram and a ruthless spin attack.

Markram produced the innings of the tournament for DSG, smashing a career-best 108 to lift his side to 189 for seven. It was his second T20 century and came off just 55 balls, setting the platform for a must-win result.

Paarl Royals never recovered in reply and slumped to 131 for nine, undone by sharp turn and disciplined bowling.

The Super Giants skipper set the tone early, striking the ball cleanly through the off side and dominating the powerplay. He accelerated again in the middle overs, taking particular aim at Sikandar Raza, and surged from fifty to a hundred with brutal efficiency.

His final tally included a blistering late assault that pushed DSG beyond 185, despite Hardus Viljoen finishing with impressive figures of four for 21 for the Royals.

Heinrich Klaasen added 29 and Liam Livingstone chipped in with 19, but this was clearly Markram's night. He also played his part with the ball, removing opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius during the chase.

Defending 190, DSG leaned heavily on spin as conditions increasingly favoured turn. Sunil Narine struck early, before Markram, Livingstone and Simon Harmer tightened the screws. Harmer was outstanding, conceding just 13 runs in four overs and dismissing David Miller again in a one-sided match-up.

By the 12th over, Royals were 65 for five and the contest was effectively over. Bjorn Fortuin's unbeaten 35 helped them avoid being bowled out, but the damage was long done. Late strikes from Kwena Maphaka and Gerald Coetzee sealed DSG's first home win of the season.

The result lifted Durban's Super Giants to fourth on the table. Their fate, however, still depends on other results as the league phase reaches its conclusion.

Capitals recover from 7 for 5 to stun Super Kings by 21 runs

Pretoria Capitals secured a crucial 21-run victory over Joburg Super Kings in their SA20 clash after recovering from a dramatic top-order collapse under difficult conditions.

Sent in to bat under overcast skies with light drizzle around, the Capitals were ripped apart early as JSK exploited extra bounce and seam movement.

Daniel Worrall struck in the opening over and Wiaan Mulder bowled a double-wicket maiden in the fourth, leaving the hosts reeling at 10 for five after five overs. Worrall, who delivered four consecutive overs, finished with impressive figures of 2 for 12.

The innings was rescued by a remarkable 103-run sixth-wicket partnership between Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford. Dropped on three, Brevis went on to score 53, while Rutherford's unbeaten 74 made him the first Capitals batter to reach 300 runs in a single SA20 season.

Acceleration after the second drinks break, sparked by a 23-run 14th over, lifted the Capitals to 143 for six.

JSK's chase never fully settled on a pitch offering uneven bounce. Keshav Maharaj extracted sharp turn to remove James Vince, Matthew de Villiers and Mulder as the visitors slipped from 40 for one to 68 for six.

Despite Dian Forrester's unbeaten 44 and a late push that briefly threatened the result, sustained pressure and three wickets from Lizaad Williams ensured JSK fell short. 

READ MORE: Virat Kohli back up to no. 1 ODI ranking as ICC corrects career record