Lightning abandons JSK v Paarl Royals after veterans' masterclass

Faf du Plessis and Englishman James Vince put on an exhibition of experienced batting on a tricky pitch to lead the Joburg Super Kings to a highly competitive total of 187-6 in their SA20 match against the Paarl Royals at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday evening before inclement weather caused the match to be abandoned.

No play was possible after the hallway stage with lightning in the vicinity of the venue not clearing in the required time.

The openers laid a fine platform with 73 for the first wicket despite some uneven bounce and varying pace but the rest of the batting order was largely unable to capitalise on the platform.

Thirty-four-year-old Vince crafted an excellent 75 from just 43 balls with nine fours and three judiciously struck legside sixes before inside-edging a clever slower ball from Nqobani Mokoena onto his stumps while 41-year-old Du Plessis made 39 from 24 balls with six fours and a six before missing an off-spinning snorter from Zimbabwean Sikander Raza.

Lightning remains within close proximity to the venue. The safety of everyone at the stadium is our main priority#BetwaySA20 #JSKvPR #WelcomeToIncredible https://t.co/5Mk8TWpIId — Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 8, 2026

Matthew de Villiers collected 30 from 22 balls (3x4, 1x6) before heaving Raza (4-0-26-2) off the back foot to long off but Wiaan Mulder (5) top-edged a slog sweep against Afghani Mujeeb-ur-Rahman (4-0-40-1) and Indian American Shubham Ranjane (7) was run out by Mujeeb in a hopeless mix up with Donovan Ferreira.

Floodlight failure further disrupted the JSK innings and Ferreira (9) slogged the first delivery after the 15-minute stoppage straight up in the air but Dian Forrester (15*) clipped two boundaries from eight deliveries to set up a stiff run-chase.

The home side lost for the first time in a closely contested, 12-over encounter against MI Cape Town in their last match but remain well placed in second place with17 points from their six matches, behind leaders Sunrisers Eastern Cape on net run-rate.

The Royals have bounced back in fine fashion with three consecutive victories after being bowled out for just 49 in their opening game and remain in third place with 15 points having played a game fewer than JSK and SEC.

JOBURG SUPER KINGS: Faf du Plessis (captain), Wiaan Mulder, James Vince, Matthew de Villiers, Shubham Ranjane, Donovan Ferreira (wkt), Dian Forrester, Dan Worrall, Akeal Hosein, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger.

PAARL ROYALS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wkt), Asa Tribe, Rubin Hermann, Dan Lawrence, David Miller (captain), Delano Potgieter, Sikander Raza, Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Hardus Viljoen, Nqobani Mokoena.