CENTURION – The Paarl Royals delivered a masterclass in power hitting and clinical bowling to dismantle the Joburg Super Kings by 36 runs in a pulsating SA20 Eliminator at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday evening 22 January, setting up a tantalising showdown with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 2.
Kyle Verreynne announced his intentions from the first ball, smashing four boundaries and a six in a blistering 15-ball cameo worth 30 runs before Nandre Burger tempted him with a wide delivery that he dragged onto his stumps. But if JSK thought they had caught a break, Lhuan-dre Pretorius had other ideas. The opener launched five towering sixes and two fours in a swashbuckling 51 (35), preferring the aerial bombardment before Matthew de Villiers’ rocket throw from the deep caught him woefully short attempting a second run.
The middle order refused to let the momentum slip. Dan Lawrence clubbed a bristling 36 (23), peppered with two fours and three sixes, before Wiaan Mulder produced a ripper that bowled him behind his legs. Sikandar Raza matched Lawrence’s boundary count with an even more ferocious 35 from just 19 balls before Duan Jansen held a sharp return catch. The man from Jersey, Asa Tribe, then provided the final flourish, cracking an unbeaten 30 from merely 16 balls to propel the Royals to an imposing 210/5.
JSK’s chase imploded spectacularly in the powerplay, losing four wickets before the fielding restrictions were lifted. Veteran quick Hardus Viljoen wreaked havoc, bowling Neil Timmers and removing Matthew de Villiers for a four-ball duck. Rivaldo Moonsamy fell victim to Bjorn Fortuin’s notorious quicker ball, whilst Leus du Plooy inexplicably chose not to review an lbw decision that Hawkeye later confirmed had pitched outside leg stump.
Captain James Vince briefly resurrected JSK’s hopes with a gutsy 47 (29), whilst Wiaan Mulder smashed an impressive 41 (27). The pair constructed a 58-run partnership that flickered with promise, but Nqobani Mokoena’s crafty slower ball dismantled Vince’s stumps, and when Dian Forrester holed out to Raza in the deep, the contest effectively ended.
JSK limped to 174/8, with Viljoen’s exceptional 3-24 from four overs earning him the champagne.
Both sides battled injury woes, with Royals’ regular skipper David Miller nursing an adductor strain that has ruled him out of the imminent West Indies series. JSK endured an even grimmer casualty list: Faf du Plessis departed with a thumb injury ten days ago, whilst replacement Donovan Ferreira fractured his left clavicle, forcing Englishman James Vince into the captaincy hot seat as their third leader this campaign.
The Royals now face Sunrisers Eastern Cape barely 24 hours later at the Wanderers, with Sunday’s grand final against Pretoria Capitals at Newlands beckoning the victor.
