Capitals’ Historic Comeback

Betway SA20 delivered an incredible set of results on Saturday that leaves three teams still in contention for the final playoff berth.

There is an intense tussle for the last remaining playoff spot with Durban’s Super Giants (19 points), Joburg Super Kings (17 points) and MI Cape Town (14 points) fighting it out heading into the final two round-robin fixtures.

The excitement started on Saturday at Kingsmead where Durban’s Super Giants’ captain Aiden Markram struck an electrifying career-best 108 off 58 balls to set up his team’s bonus point 58-run victory over Paarl Royals.

The five points earned pushed DSG up to 19 points, and into the fourth and final playoff berth two points ahead of Joburg Super Kings.

But despite the comprehensive victory that saw DSG post 189/7 before restricting Royals to 131/9, their playoff fate was still in the balance as a JSK victory over Pretoria Capitals at the Wanderers later in the evening would eliminate both Super Giants and MI Cape Town.

JSK certainly sent shivers down the spines of both teams when they reduced Pretoria Capitals to an extraordinary 7/5 after 4.5 overs. The Super Kings seamers were virtually unplayable with Dan Worrall, Nandre Burger and Wiaan Mulder all chipping in to place Capitals deep in the quagmire.

But that set the stage for the greatest comeback in Betway SA20 history with Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford rebuilding Capitals’ innings with a remarkable record 103-run sixth-wicket stand. The pair had already shown they enjoy batting together during this competition, but took it to the next level at the Bullring.

JSK will rue dropping Brevis on three, for the big-hitting right-hander went on to score 53 off 47 balls (4×4, 3×6) and in the process winning a duel with JSK captain Donovan Ferreira, who conceded 23 runs in the 14th over.

Rutherford, though, was once again the mainstay of the Capitals’ innings with an unbeaten 74 (50 balls, 10×4, 2×6) as his pyrotechnics lifted the visitors to an improbable 143/6.

The Capitals bowling unit were determined to defend their total and led by the irrepressible Lizaad Williams (3/25) and captain Keshav Maharaj (3/15), the Centurion-based team restricted Joburg Super Kings to 122/8 to complete one of the most sensational comebacks in T20 franchise cricket history.

The Capitals victory propelled Maharaj’s outfit to top of the three-pronged leaderboard on 24 points along with Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

However, they would have been celebrating all the way down in Durban and Cape Town too, with DSG and MI Cape Town all now surviving to fight another day.

Joburg Super Kings’ playoff fate is still in their own hands with one final match remaining against Paarl Royals on Monday at Boland Park, but they may have to contest it without their stand-in captain Ferreira who was hit on the head first ball and forced to retire hurt.

MI Cape Town (14 points) now face Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St George’s Park on Sunday requiring a bonus-point victory to remain in the playoff.

At the summit of the standings, Pretoria Capitals, Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape have all qualified already and are locked on 24 points.

The Capitals have completed their round-robin fixtures but will have to wait for Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape to play their respective final matches to see who will contest Qualifier 1 at Kingsmead next Wednesday.

BETWAY SA20 FOURTH PLACE PLAYOFF PERMUTATIONS

• Paarl Royals, Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals have qualified for the playoffs. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
• Durban’s Super Giants, Joburg Super Kings and MI Cape Town are in contention for the fourth and final berth.
• Both Durban’s Super Giants and MI Cape Town need JSK to lose to Paarl Royals on Monday.
• Durban’s Super Giants also need MI Cape Town to lose or win without a bonus point against Sunrisers Eastern Cape on Sunday.
• MI Cape Town need to win with a bonus point against Sunrisers Eastern Cape to move ahead of Durban’s Super Giants by virtue of more wins. ​ ​
• Joburg Super Kings need to beat Paarl Royals to qualify. The victory will eliminate both Durban’s Super Giants and MI Cape Town.