• Top spot on SA20 log up for grabs

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    The third-placed Sunrisers Eastern Cape host the fourth-placed Joburg Super Kings at St George’s Park on Wednesday.

    The Sunrisers (19 points) slipped from the summit after the Pretoria Capitals (20) claimed a bonus-point win over MI Cape Town at Centurion. A victory over JSK, however, would see the two-time champions reclaim top position.

    JSK could also move back to the top of the standings for the first time since their fourth match of the season should they overcome the Sunrisers’ challenge.

    After going down to Durban’s Super Giants at St George’s Park, Sunrisers coach Adrian Birrell said side would need to be at their best at the end of the league stage.

    “We’re going to play Joburg and then we’re going to play MI Cape Town twice,” Birrell said. “So there are no easy games, and we never get ahead of ourselves. It’s just about getting into the playoffs and then trying to get into the top two.”

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    JSK, meanwhile, will be without captain Faf du Plessis for the rest of the campaign after the 41-year-old suffered a thumb injury while diving in their defeat to MI Cape Town at the Wanderers.

    Middle-order batter Donovan Ferreira has been appointed stand-in skipper for the rest of the tournament, with Leus du Plooy replaces Du Plessis.

    That absence places added responsibility on the young shoulders of Dian Forrester, who impressed in his previous outing with a maiden SA20 half-century.

    “I  just try to stick to my routine,” Forrester said after his 80* off 42 balls against MICT. “I think at the end of the day, if you get caught up in the moment, you’re not watching the ball.

    “I try to breathe, do a lot of off-the-field work with our psychologist, trying to find a nice routine of exactly that. Play the ball, not play the player.”

    Wednesday’s match starts at 5:30pm.

    Photo: Richard Huggard/Sportzpics

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    Simon Borchardt