• Capitals comeback completes day of high drama

    Published on

    The SA20 delivered a dramatic set of results on Saturday, leaving three teams still in contention for the final playoff berth.

    The drama began at Kingsmead, where Durban’s Super Giants captain Aiden Markram produced a scintillating T20 career-best 108 off 58 balls to power his side to a bonus-point 58-run win over the Paarl Royals.

    The five points lifted DSG to 19 on the log and into fourth place, edging ahead of the Joburg Super Kings on 17. DSG posted 189-7 before restricting the Royals to 131-9, but their playoff fate remained out of their hands as events later unfolded at the Wanderers.

    HIGHLIGHTS: Durban’s Super Giants vs Paarl Royals

    A JSK victory over the Pretoria Capitals would have eliminated both DSG and MI Cape Town, and they appeared well on course when they reduced the Capitals to a remarkable 7-5 after 4.5 overs.

    The JSK seamers were virtually unplayable, with Dan Worrall, Nandre Burger and Wiaan Mulder tearing through the top order.

    That collapse, however, set the stage for one of the greatest comebacks in SA20’s short history. Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford rebuilt the innings with a superb 103-run partnership for the sixth wicket, taking the Capitals from the brink of disaster to a position of strength.

    JSK were left to rue dropping Brevis on three, as the right-hander went on to score 53 off 47 balls (four fours, three sixes), including a decisive exchange against JSK captain Donovan Ferreira, who conceded 23 runs in the 14th over.

    Rutherford was once again the backbone of the innings, finishing unbeaten on 74 off 50 balls (10 fours, two sixes) to lift the Capitals to an improbable 143-6.

    That proved enough. Led by Lizaad Williams (3-25) and skipper Keshav Maharaj (3-15), the Capitals bowling attack held firm to restrict JSK to 122-8 and complete one of the most sensational turnarounds in franchise T20 cricket.

    The win propelled the Capitals to the top of the log on 24 points, level with the Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

    The result was also celebrated in Durban and Cape Town, with both DSG and MI Cape Town surviving to fight another day.

    JSK’s playoff fate remains in their own hands with one match to play, against the Paarl Royals at Boland Park on Monday. However, they may be without stand-in captain Ferreira, who retired hurt after facing just one ball, having earlier injured himself in the field.

    MICT, on 14 points, face the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St George’s Park on Sunday, knowing only a bonus-point win will keep their playoff hopes alive.

    The Sunrisers, meanwhile, also have plenty at stake as they chase a top-two finish and a place in the first qualifier playoff at Kingsmead on Wednesday.

    Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

    Post by

    Simon Borchardt