Faf du Plessis was in imperious form with a sensational 87 from only 55 balls to set up an emphatic seven-wicket victory for the Joburg Super Kings in their SA20 match against the Paarl Royals at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday.
A mostly excellent bowling performance from JSK restricted the Royals to 150-9 after being asked to bat first and, although the target could and should have been lower, Du Plessis crushed any doubt about the result with a brilliant innings containing four fours and seven sixes among some audacious shots.
The @Betway_za Moment(s) of the Match = certified epic. 🙌#BetwaySA20 #JSKvPR #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/VKlErOO5rE
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 30, 2025
Opening partner Devon Conway (20) was bowled by a beauty from Afghan mystery spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman after an opening stand of 54 with his captain but Du Plessis dominated a second-wicket stand of 76 with Leus du Plooy before finally holing out to deep square leg.
Du Plooy (18*) and Jonny Bairstow (8*) finished the game with a luxurious 13 balls to spare to keep the Super Kings hopes of a place in the playoffs very much alive.
Having reduced the visitors to 80-6 JSK might have hoped for smaller target but still started as strong favourites on a dryer than usual Wanderers pitch.
Englishman Sam Hain, replacing the irreplaceable Joe Root, remarkably hit the second ball of the innings from offspinner Ferreira to long off having waited eight games for his first appearance but Lhuan-dre Pretorius (19) suggested a fightback with a four and two sixes from 11 balls before a well-disguised slower ball from Lutho Sipamla ended in a catch to mid-off.
Mitch van Buuren (5) edged Hardus Viljoen (1-25) onto his stumps and the excellent Sipamla (3-19) trapped Keith Dudgeon (1) lbw before Rubin Hermann (28) chipped a drive to extra cover against Ferreira who finished with an impressive 3-23 from his four overs.
The innings was changed dramatically when JSK captain Du Plessis introduced the part-time off-spin of Wihan Lubbe who delivered three long-hops to Dinesh Karthik, all of which were hit for six as the veteran Indian international finished with 53 from 39 balls before holing out to Du Plessis at long on against Imran Tahir (1-19).
The Super Kings lost an opportunity for a more straightforward victory with Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana (2-0-23-0) losing control of his radar in the closing overs but Lubbe’s over (1-0-22-0) might have cost them a bonus point – which may, or may may not, be the difference in qualification for the playoffs.
JOBURG SUPER KINGS: Devon Conway, Faf du Plessis (captain), Leus du Plooy, Wihan Lubbe, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Donovan Ferreira, Evan Jones, Hardus Viljoen, Imran Tahir, Lutho Sipamla, Matheesha Pathirana
PAARL ROYALS: Sam Hain, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rubin Hermann, Mitchell Van Buuren, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Keith Dudgeon, Bjorn Fortuin (captain), Dayyaan Galiem, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi