A sensational century from Faf du Plessis took Joburg Super Kings (JSK) home against Durban's Super Giants (DSG) at the Wanderers on Tuesday. The Super Kings registered an eight-wicket win in the SA20 clash between two sides at the bottom of the points table.
With this win, the Super Kings have moved to the fourth position on the points table, further entrenching DSG at rock bottom.
DSG's quick start in the powerplay
JSK skipper Faf du Plessis opted to bowl first after winning the toss. The Super Giants got off to an erratic start despite Kyle Mayers scoring 28 off 15 up at the top.
Skipper Quinton de Kock (6) couldn't score heavily yet again as he walked back early in the innings. After Wiaan Mulder's departure for a duck, DSG were reduced to 57/3 at the end of the powerplay.
Klaasen's classic 65
Matthew Breetzke (28) joined forces with glovesman Heinrich Klaasen (65) to rescue the side with a 75-run stand, and the stage was set for a big finish.
Klaasen got DSK back on track with a sensible fifty containing seven boundaries. He was complemented by Jason Holder, whose unbeaten 12-ball 28 ensured that DSK stormed to 178/6 and carried the momentum with them to the break.
The Super Giants began economically
DSG also started magnificently with the ball. The first three overs, bowled by Mayers, Keshav Maharaj and Reece Topley accounted for just eight runs. While du Plessis began to lay the groundwork, Reeza Hendricks (45) continued to struggle. JSK managed only 41 runs at the end of the powerplay.
Mayers, Maharaj and Topley bowled 10 economical overs, conceding only 52 runs in them. By the end of the 13th over, JSK had managed 97, with the run rate approaching 12.
Du Plessis ton takes JSK home
The Joburg skipper found the rhythm after the 13th over. The next three overs produced 55 runs, with Du Plessis completing a 54-ball hundred. Hendricks struggled for most of the inning, with Du Plessis doing the bulk of the damage.
Du Plessis (113*) smashed eight sixes in his unbeaten century and was involved in a terrific 157-run opening stand with Hendricks as Joburg Super Kings chased down 179 with five balls to spare.
“Faf played an outstanding knock. We had a chance early. We were pretty happy with the total. We needed to pick up early wickets. They never gave their wickets away. It has been tough. The guys came out and fought hard today,” DSG skipper De Kock said after the loss.
Brief scores
Joburg Super Kings 182/2 in 19.1 overs (Faf du Plessis 113*, Reeza Hendricks 45, Reece Topley 1/19) beat Durban’s Super Giants 178/6 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 65, Jason Holder 28, Maheesh Theekshana 3/30, Gerald Coetzee 3/21) by eight wickets.
