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Playoff race intensifies in this weekend's Betway SA20 clashes

cricket24 January 2025 09:45| © Cricket SA
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Sunrisers Eastern Cape © Cricket SA

The League is gearing up for a super weekend of high-octane action with all six teams battling away for playoff positions.

Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings kickstart the proceedings in the first of their two contests this weekend at St George’s Park on Friday.

Gqeberha is abuzz with excitement after the Sunrisers collected two consecutive home victories - and their third overall - already this week.

The build-up to the clash is reaching fever pitch with the Orange Army set to come out in their numbers in what is expected to be another memorable Betway SA20 Friday night in the Friendly City.

JSK, meanwhile, will be eager to build up some momentum before they return home for a string of four matches, starting against the Sunrisers at the Wanderers on Sunday.

In between, the Betway SA20 travelling caravan makes a double stop on a searing Saturday in the Western Cape.

With the mercury levels set to reach 37 degrees at Boland Park for a mid-day start, the table-topping Paarl Royals will look to increase the heat even further on the Pretoria Capitals.

The Royals have been in supreme form at home and will be eager to become the first team to secure a playoff spot for Season 3 at “Fortress Boland Park”.

“I think it's super key to get that playoff place as soon as possible. I think the first two seasons we sort of let it slip towards the back end of the comp and ended up playing the Eliminator game.

“This year we would love to finish first, or at least in the top two, and get into Qualifier 1 and hopefully get into the finals straight away.

“Yeah, love playing at home. We love playing at Boland Park. I think it suits our squad beautifully,” said Royals batter Mitchell van Buuren.

“We've got a lot of unbelievable spinners. We've sort of found a great formula on how to play at home. We've got back-to-back home games now and we're buzzing for those. Fortress, Boland Park, we like to call it!”

 

 

The Capitals, meanwhile, have been beset by injuries, particularly to their fast bowlers with former captain Wayne Parnell the latest to be ruled out joining Anrich Nortje and Daryn Dupavillion on the sidelines.

Jonathan Trott’s team will hope to find a way to rediscover the form that saw the Capitals finish runners-up in Season 1.

Finally, all roads lead to Newlands on Saturday evening for the hottest ticket in the Mother City when MI Cape Town host Durban’s Super Giants.

Robin Peterson’s side have delivered a string of impressive performances at home this season and will be eager to entertain the Newlands faithful again.

DSG, however, find themselves in the must-win position of having to claim all the points on offer from their final three matches, starting with the clash against MICT, if they are to squeeze into the playoffs.

“It has been disappointing, but for us it's pretty simple now. We've got to win three from three to stand a chance. So let's hope we can do it and turn it around,” said DSG allrounder Jon Jon Smuts.

“Look, to be honest, we've all been up for it. I think we've got a really strong side. I think if you look at it, we're obviously very disappointed in ourselves and the performances we put in.

“And guys have a lot of self-pride. So I know the guys are really desperate to do well. Let’s hope in the next few games we can somehow show what we're capable of.”

 

 

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