Our incredible run of form hit a little speed-breaker in Qualifier 1. Nevertheless, we are now geared up for Qualifier 2 against Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on Thursday.
The stakes are high - the winner will earn the right to play defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Saturday’s final at Newlands while the loser will be eliminated.
We have faced Joburg Super Kings twice this season with the honours evenly split.
Riding on Heinrich Klaasen’s composed half-century and a clinical bowling performance led by skipper Keshav Maharaj, we registered a 37-run victory over Joburg Super Kings at our very own Kingsmead.
Despite posting 203/6 in our away game at Bullring last week, we lost to JSK by seven wickets on the penultimate ball of the innings.
Key players for us, such as JJ Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, and Heinrich Klaasen, who shone in our previous clash with JSK, will once again be pivotal. Matthew Breetzke, our top scorer this season, is also expected to step up in this do-or-die contest.
Our batters will have to be wary against the likes of Sam Cook, who took 4/24 against Paarl Royals in the Eliminator. JSK, however, will be sweating on the availability of their strike bowler Lizaad Williams, who might miss out due to injury. Williams is the second-highest wicket-taker in SA20 2024.
In the bowling department, Reece Topley will be seeking early wickets in the powerplay. Skipper Keshav Maharaj, our leading wicket-taker this season, will aim for tight overs in the middle phase alongside Noor Ahmad. The challenge for our bowlers will be containing Leus du Plooy, JSK skipper Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali.
Heading into Thursday’s contest, we are regrouping after a 51-run loss in Cape Town against Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 1. JSK, on the other hand, secured their place in Qualifier 2 by overcoming Paarl Royals in the Eliminator.
Durban’s Super Giants vs Joburg Super Kings head-to-head record
This will be our fifth meeting against Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20. While this season has been 1-1 so far, we lost our two matches against JSK last season.
Match details
Durban’s Super Giants vs Joburg Super Kings, Qualifier 2
Date and day: February 8, Thursday
Venue: The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Time: 5:30 PM SAST, 9:00 PM IST
