Durban’s Super Giants’ spirited performance went in vain as they lost to Paarl Royals by six wickets in their penultimate SA20 2025 game at the Boland Park in Paarl on Monday, September 27.
Opting to bat first, the Super Giants rode on Marcus Stoinis’ unbeaten 55 off 40 balls and Kane Williamson’s 36-ball 45 to post 143/7 in their overs. Later, DSG bowlers pushed the hosts till the very end, but eventually suffered a heartbreak in a last-over thriller in Paarl.
DSG batters off to a challenging start
The Super Giants suffered an early blow as wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock departed in the opening over of the game. His opening partner Brandon King soon followed as he fell to Kwena Maphaka. Bryce Parsons and Kane Williamson then forged a 29-run partnership for the third wicket before Parsons was dismissed after powerplay.
Williamson, Stoinis stitch crucial partnership
Struggling at 33/3 in 6.4 overs, Marcus Stoinis joined Williamson at the crease. Williamson and Stoinis later steadied the innings for the Super Giants. After playing sensibly with ones and twos, Williamson slammed Dayyaan Galiem for a six and followed it up with a boundary in the 10th over. The duo added 53 runs for the fourth wicket before Williamson departed for a 36-ball 45.
Stoinis’ fifty powers DSG to 143/7
Despite losing in-form Heinrich Klaasen in the 17th over, Stoinis continued his attacking game as he hammered Joe Root for two sixes and one four to accumulate 20 runs in the 18th over. The Australian all-rounder later notched up his maiden fifty in SA20, and 34th overall in T20 cricket. Stoinis remained unbeaten on 55 off 40 balls to help DSG post 143/7 in their overs. His brilliant knock was laced with five fours and two sixes.
Perfect start for the bowlers
Defending 143, DSG were off to a sensational start as Prenelan Subrayen bagged the massive wicket of Paarl Royals opener Joe Root on the very first ball of the chase. The talented right-arm off-spinner trapped Root in front of the stumps for a golden duck.
Stoinis provides huge breakthrough
Following Root’s dismissal, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann added 91 runs for the second wicket. Later in the 13th over, Stoinis broke the partnership as he removed Hermann to bring the Super Giants back into the game. Captain Keshav Maharaj soon joined the party as he cleaned up Pretorius to reduce the Royals to 107/3 in 14.3 overs.
Last-over thriller in Paarl
Later in the 19th over, the Super Giants continued to pick up crucial wickets as left-arm spinner JJ Smuts removed Royals’ wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik to bring the visitors back into the game. Defending five runs in the final over, Maharaj then handed the over to Wiaan Mulder. While Mulder fought till the very end, the Royals chased down the target in the fifth ball in another thrilling game in SA20 2025.
What next for the Super Giants?
The Super Giants will square off against Joburg Super Kings in their final SA20 2025 league match at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, February 1.
Brief Scores: Durban’s Super Giants 143/7 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 55; Bjorn Fortuin 2/20) lost to Paarl Royals 147/4 in 19.5 overs (Rubin Hermann 59, JJ Smuts 1/22) by 6 wickets.
