• Harmer keeps DSG believing

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    Durban’s Super Giants are up against it in the SA20, but Simon Harmer says hope is not lost.

    A tournament plagued by stop-start weather has left DSG outside the playoff places in fifth position. With one match remaining and several results still needing to fall their way, Harmer believes the door is not yet fully closed.

    “I think it’s been frustrating because it’s felt very stop-start. The weather hasn’t really played its part,” Harmer told SportsBoom.co.za.

    “We’ve played, then had a rain-out, then played again. When you’re trying to build momentum in a short tournament like this, that’s tough.”

    DSG showed early promise with a statement opening win over MI Cape Town, but momentum never truly followed. Rain interruptions, narrow defeats, Super Over losses and last-over heartbreaks have defined their season.

    “After that win in Cape Town, tournaments like this are about building momentum and letting guys find their groove,” Harmer explained. “You’ve got 16 or 18 players coming together in a very short space of time, and you want them to gel, especially on the field.”

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    While the Super Giants can point to misfortune, Harmer accepts that accountability cannot be ignored.

    “We’ve got to take responsibility. We’ve had opportunities to win games when we’ve played, and we haven’t taken them,” he said. “But that’s also the nature of this tournament. There aren’t any weak teams and everyone has match-winners.”

    The unpredictability of the SA20, combined with frequent weather interruptions, has left little margin for error.

    “The rain has played its part in momentum and finding our groove, but we’ve also missed opportunities,” Harmer added.

    DSG host the Paarl Royals at Kingsmead on Saturday knowing victory is essential and, even then, their fate will partly rest on other results. They will likely need the Joburg Super Kings to slip up in their remaining fixtures.

    “Ultimately, we still have to win on Saturday for us to have any chance,” Harmer said. “Realistically, we probably need a bonus-point win, so we’ll need a serious performance.

    “Hopefully the weather behaves, and hopefully mother cricket is kind to us. There’s still hope that we can sneak in through the back door.”

    Harmer joined DSG as a temporary replacement for Sunil Narine, whose availability was delayed due to commitments elsewhere. The move came together quickly after the SA20 auction.

    “After the India tour, Lance Klusener messaged me and asked if I was keen to come on board as a replacement,” Harmer revealed. “Even if it was just three games, I was very keen. I’ve always enjoyed the SA20.”

    With overseas availability still in flux, Harmer’s stay could yet be extended.

    He believes the presence of elite international players remains key to the tournament’s growth.

    “They bring a lot of clout. The crowd wants to see the best players in the world,” he said. “That experience in the change room is invaluable, helping batters, helping bowlers, and bringing calmness under pressure.”

    Beyond the SA20, Harmer’s ambitions remain tied to the international stage. After impressing in recent Test opportunities against Pakistan and India, he remains eager for further chances under Proteas coach Shukri Conrad.

    “There’s not a lot of Test cricket, and all of it in 2026 is in South Africa,” Harmer said. “Shukri is very honest – you always know where you stand.”

    For now, Harmer’s focus is immediate.

    “It’s one day at a time. I’ve got my season with Essex coming up, and I need to make sure I’m performing and fit so I can put my name in the hat when those tours come around.”

    For DSG, however, all eyes remain fixed on Saturday – and on the small but still flickering hope of a playoff lifeline.

    Photo: Carl Fourie/Sportzpics

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    Simon Borchardt