Mills helps Pretoria Capitals restrict JSK to 168 for six

Rilee Rossouw and Wiaan Mulder scored 48 and 43, respectively, in a third-wicket partnership of 78 to help the Joburg Super Kings post a modest total of 168 for six after being asked to bat first in their opening SA20 match against the Pretoria Capitals at Centurion Park on Saturday afternoon.

Rossouw endured a miserable season playing for the Capitals before moving south of the Jukskei River this year and hammered five fours and three sixes from 33 balls to steady the innings after the early loss of openers Matthew de Villiers (13) and Faf du Plessis (2).

The highlight of Mulder’s 43 from 28 balls came when he slog-swept successive sixes against left-arm spinner Bryce Parsons into the crowd, both of which were caught one-handed by spectators to enter their names into the Betway ‘Catch R Million’ promotion. Mulder’s attempt to hit a third ended in the hands of Codi Yusuf at mid and his dismissal.

Indian born USA allrounder Shubham Ranjane (17) hammered a straight six before slicing a Yusuf delivery to Dewald Brevis on the boundary and Parsons (2-0-22-2) claimed a second wicket when Donovan Ferreira (9) was bowled by a quicker, non-turning delivery.

English left-arm fast bowler, Tymal Mills, bowled a torrid, rapid opening spell of 3-0-6-2, which may well prove to be the match-winning performance. De Villiers was beaten for pace and edged to keeper Daniel Smith, while Rossouw could only slash a short ball straight up to captain Keshav Maharaj.

Akeal Hossein (22* from 10 balls) provided some late Caribbean flair with a pair of sixes against Lungi Ngidi (0-43), but Mills conceded just 10 from the final over to finish with 2-16 in his first match in the tournament. If his batsmen do their job, they should ensure he makes a winning debut.

The Jukskei derby sees the tournament’s most expensive signing, Dewald Brevis, returning to his home ground after three seasons in Cape Town, having been bought by the Capitals for R16.5 million at this year's player auction.

The tournament began on Friday night in Cape Town, where last year’s wooden spoonists, Durban Super Giants, beat the defending champions, Mumbai Indians Cape Town, by 15 runs in a high-scoring encounter featuring one short of 250 runs.

PRETORIA CAPITALS: Will Smeed, Bryce Parsons, Shai Hope (wkt), Daniel Smith, Dewald Brevis, Connor Esterhuizen, Roston Chase, Codi Yusuf, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Lungi Ngidi, Tymal Mills

JOBURG SUPER KINGS: Faf du Plessis (captain), Rilee Rossouw, Wiaan Mulder, Donovan Ferreira (wkt), Matthew De Villiers, Dian Forrester, Shubham Ranjane, Duan Jansen, Janco Smit, Akeal Hosein, Richard Gleeson