The race for the top spot on the SA20 2024 points table is heating up and our upcoming clash against Paarl Royals at the Boland Park on Friday promises to be a thrilling spectacle. 

While the Royals are perched at the summit of the SA20 2024 points table with 22 points from six matches, we are hot on their heels with 18 points from as many games. A win on Friday could very well take us to the top of the standings once again.

We have found a different hero in every match, showcasing the depth of the squad this season. Marcus Stoinis had big shoes to fill in for Nicholas Pooran but the Australian all-rounder has fit into the squad seamlessly, picking up six wickets in just three matches. His 3/18 proved pivotal in our previous match against MI Cape Town as we snapped our two-match losing streak.

Matthew Breetzke has been consistent at the top of the batting order and despite not having scored a 50 so far, is our top run-scorer this season with 211 runs at a healthy strike rate. Klaasen’s 200 runs from six matches include a match-winning 85 against MI Cape Town in the opener and a fighting 64 against Joburg Super Kings. Klaasen and Breetzke will be tasked to neutralise the threat posed by Lungi Ngidi, who is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far.

Paarl Royals are also not short on firepower in the batting with in-form Jos Buttler and David Miller in the side. However, in Noor Ahmed, our skipper Keshav Maharaj has got himself a perfect weapon to complement him in the spin department. Reece Topley has been leading the pace attack brilliantly and is our top wicket-taker with eight scalps from six matches.

Paarl Royals vs Durban’s Super Giants head-to-head

We are up against Paarl Royals for the first time this season. 

Last season, we won the home game against the Royals by 27 runs after posting 216/4 batting first. QDK and Klaasen struck quickfire 50s before Reece Topley took 3/34 to restrict the Royals to 189/8. The away contest saw us fall short by 10 runs chasing 169.

With the top spot on the SA20 2024 points table on the line, our team will come out all guns blazing in the first of the two matches against Royals on Friday.

Match details

Paarl Royals vs Durban’s Super Giants, Match 19

Date and day: January 26, Friday

Venue: Boland Park, Paarl

Time: 5:30 PM SAST