Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis showed his class and experience with a match-winning 92 from 61 balls (7x4, 4x6) on a difficult Wanderers pitch to set his side up for a 24-run win in the SA20 clash against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and qualification for the playoffs.
With Reeza Hendricks’s 40 from 36 balls (5x4) the Super Kings openers posted 119 for the first wicket, their second century stand of the competition, setting up a defendable 160/6, as the rest of the batting failed dismally, six wickets falling for 41 runs.
Best with the ball for the Sunrisers was Aiden Markram with 2-7 in his one over and Sisanda Magala with 2-24 in four overs. Marco Jansen and Brydon Carse took a wicket apiece.
He's done it again #Betway #SA20 #JSKvSEC @Betway_India pic.twitter.com/hLPtKdjp8Y
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) February 5, 2023
In reply, the Sunrisers struggled to 136/9, despite 50 (34 balls, 5x4, 2x6) from Temba Bavuma and 34 (30 balls, 2x4, 1x6) from skipper Aidan Markram, the pair putting on 59 from 46 balls for the fourth wicket after their side had been 23/3 after five overs.
The Super Kings bowlers were always on top, reducing the Sunrisers to 29/3 in the powerplay and 68/3 after 10 overs.
The aggressive Adam Rossington (1), Jordan Hermann (5) and Jon-Jon Smuts (0) all fell early and when it looked as though some stability had been restored, left-arm orthodox spinner Kyle Simmonds changed the course of the game with two wickets in his fourth and final over the 15th, dismissing the dangerous Tristan Stubbs (5) and Marco Jansen (0) with the fifth and sixth balls.
This after he had bowled Bavuma with one that kept low to finish with 3-23 in his four overs.
This left the Sunrisers reeling on 98/6 and the very next ball, the first of the 16th over, Markram slapped one to Sibs Makhanya at cover point off Romario Shepherd.
The Sunriser's 100 came three balls later and it was a matter of whether the Super Kings could restrict the Sunrisers to 128 or less to get a bonus point win.
The Sunrisers’ tail-enders denied the bonus point to the Super Giants but with 28 needed off the final over and one wicket remaining, it was a bridge too far for the Sunrisers.
Lead by Simmonds, the Super Kings bowlers kept a firm grip on the game, Romario Shepherd (2-24), Gerald Coetzee (2-13) and Maheesh Theekshana (2-31) also enjoying success.
It's a party at the Bullring as #JSK secure a semifinal spot after defeating #SEC by 24 runs ??#Betway #SA20 #JSKvSEC @Betway_India pic.twitter.com/7v8EWwbD4F
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) February 5, 2023
JOBURG SUPER KINGS: Faf du Plessis, Reeza Hendricks, Leeus du Plooy, Sibs Makhanya, Matthew Wade, Donovan Ferreira, Romario Shepherd, Gerald Coetzee, Kyle Simmonds, Nandre Burger, Maheesh Theekshana
SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: Adam Rossington, Themba Buvuma, Jordan Hermann, Aiden Markram, Jon-Jon Smuts, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, James Fuller, Roelof van der Merwe, Sisanda Magala, Brydon Carse