SA20 WEEK TWO: Giants crumble, underdogs rise, playoff race turns ruthless

Nearing the half-way point of the group stages and a clear split has emerged with Joburg Super Kings (15), Paarl Royals (13) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (12) enjoying a four-point gap ahead of Durban Super Giants (8), Pretoria Capitals (7) and the marooned MI Cape Town (2). An influx of fresh faces from the ILT20 could provide new impetus but the rate of fixtures means the bottom three teams will already be feeling a little ‘desperate’ for points to qualify for the play-offs.

MATCH OF THE WEEK: Paarl Royals beat MI Cape Town by a single run in the first Cape derby, a thriller, but it was even closer at the Wanderers where Joburg Super Giants required a Super Over to overcome the Durban Super Giants. Close matches are routinely regarded as the ‘best’ but, sometimes, a clinical dismantling is just as impressive. So, let’s go with Paarl Royals humiliation of MI Cape Town, on their home turf, the second derby of the week. As poor as the defending champions were, the Royals were clinical and ruthless.

BATTER:  Talking of clinical and ruthless, David Miller was a shining example of both leading the Royals in a tricky run-chase of 150 against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape. 35-4 after seven overs is not the ideal start but Miller oozed calm and confidence and waited patiently for the right time to strike with four fours and five, crisp sixes. Keegan Lion-Cachet (45) was partner and student in equal measure.

BOWLER: DSG’s Afghan mystery man, Noor Ahmed, returned 3-12 during JSK’s total of 205-4 which is worthy of mention – as is Sunriser’s ambidextrous tweaker, Tharindu Ratnayake, who grabbed 2-15 against the Pretoria Capitals. But it’s often the figures which don’t ‘catch the eye’ on the scorecard which matter most. Ottneil Baartman (4-51) had a profitable but expensive day for the Royals against MICT at Boland Park but he got the job done defending 15 in the last over – just.

PERFORMANCE: There are allrounders and then there is what Donovan Ferreira did for JSK against DSG. Smashed 33* from 10 balls, kept wicket more than tidily for 16 overs, delivered 4-0-24-1 of even tidier off-spin and ran out the last batsman to force the Super Over which JSK won to go top of the log.

OVERSEAS PLAYER: 38-year-old Richard Gleeson is a late bloomer making the first of his six T20 International appearances for England at the age of 34. Not one for the ‘limelight’ – or particularly hefty cheque – but an unflappable match-winner. Grabbed a few headlines with figures of 2.1-0-2-3 in JSK’s routing of DSG for 86 but it was the impeccable Super Over against the same team at the Wanderers which really showed his value and class.

TALKING POINT: What’s up with MI Cape Town? Two wooden spoons followed by the title last year – and another wooden spoon looming? Impeccable batting pitches have become a very happy ‘normal’ at Newlands for the last couple of seasons but, as soon as one (inevitably) arrived with a bit of ‘grip’ and uneven bounce in it, the batting collapsed in a heap. ‘Reading’ pitches and adapting to them is part of the batsman’s job – for which they are very well paid. Must do better!

LOOK OUT FOR: Is it redemption time for MICT at Newlands on Tuesday when they host the high-flying JSK? It needs to be. A fifth defeat of the defending champs will make it all-but impossible to qualify for the play-offs. DSG and the Capitals both need wins at Kingsmead on Wednesday to ignite their stuttering starts to the campaign. It’s not yet a ‘must-win’ match but it will certainly feel like it.