Durban’s Super Giants suffered a 15-run defeat against Pretoria Capitals in a high-scoring thriller at Kingsmead in their sixth match of SA20 Season 4.
Despite a sensational unbeaten knock of 97 off just 52 balls from Jos Buttler during the run chase, the Super Giants fell agonisingly short in what turned out to be a full-blown run fest under the Durban lights.
Chasing a daunting target, Buttler stood tall amid the chaos, playing one of the finest innings of the season. With wickets tumbling around him and the required rate constantly climbing, the Englishman showed class, composure and brute force, finding the boundary with remarkable consistency.
There was an early promise from the Super Giants’ batting lineup. Marques Ackerman looked fluent at the top, Aiden Markram played a few authoritative strokes, and Heinrich Klaasen threatened with his trademark power. However, none of them managed to convert their starts into the kind of substantial innings.
Earlier in the evening, the bowlers were put under severe pressure by a rampant Pretoria Capitals batting unit. Sunil Narine was the standout performer with the ball, delivering a superbly economical spell of 0/22 in his four overs.
Kwena Maphaka, David Wiese and Gerald Coetzee chipped in with a wicket apiece, but the Super Giants struggled to contain the Capitals’ scoring rate overall.
The difference ultimately came down to an extraordinary innings from Pretoria Capitals opener Shai Hope. The Barbadian was in sublime touch, compiling an unbeaten 118 off 69 balls, anchoring the innings while punishing anything loose and ensuring his side posted a commanding total.
While the result didn’t go our way, there were plenty of positives to take from an entertaining contest. The Super Giants will be back in action on January 9, facing Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Kingsmead. Spirits remain high in the camp, and the focus will be firmly on getting back to winning ways and reigniting the push for playoff qualification.
