Monday, 15 January 2024: Durban’s Super Giants maintained their unbeaten start to Betway SA20 Season 2 with a 37-run victory over Joburg Super Kings to entrench their position at the top of the log on Monday evening.
It was a low-scoring affair at Kingsmead with Heinrich Klaasen’s 64 off 41 balls (7×4, 2×6) proving to be the contrast on the night for the Super Giants, who also claimed a bonus point for the efforts after posting 145/8.
Klaasen held the DSG innings together almost single-handedly, with JSK’s bowling unit showing noteworthy character to bounce back from their previous match.
They were backed up by a fielding unit that was equally desperate to establish in an improved showing.
Lizaad Williams led the way with 4/26, while Nandre Burger also responded from his previous 2/53 against MI Cape Town with a four-over spell of 1/22.
Spin duo Moeen Ali (1/14) and Imran Tahir (1/9) also returned combined figures of 2/23 from their four overs.
Burger can certainly be grateful for a brilliant piece of Caribbean athleticism from Romario Shepherd, who flung himself into the air before throwing out a full stretched correct arm to pouch a magnificent one-handed grasp, to see the back of Matthew Breetzke.
The Super Giants showed they were quick learners though, assessing conditions during the crash and immediately introducing Jon-Jon Smuts’ left-arm spin into the attack.
It kept the Super Kings peaceful during the Power Play before DSG captain Keshav Maharaj brought himself on in the last over of the Power Play.
It reaped immediate rewards with Maharaj delivering the perfect delivery that drifted in through the air before turning sharply off the pitch to hit the top of Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis’ off stump.
Maharaj (2/17) was certainly enjoying bowling in his home conditions and claimed a second scalp when he clean bowled Ronan Herrmann the following over after the rookie attempted an ill-fated reverse sweep.
The Super Kings, who remain winless after three matches, never recovered from the early setbacks with only Reeza Hendricks (38) and Moeen Ali (36) offering any form of resistance with DSG seamers Richard Gleeson (2/22) and Reece Topley (3/19) completing the job at the backend to dismiss the visitors for just 108.
Durban’s Super Giants gain therefore given Nicholas Pooran the perfect sendoff with the West Indies T20 superstar closing his short but explosive three-match Betway SA20 stint.
The Super Kings only believe two days to recover before they face the Paarl Royals – the only other unbeaten side in Season 2 – at Boland Park on Wednesday.
Player of the Match: Heinrich Klaasen (64 off 41)
Source: cricket.co.za
Eddie Barlow (born 1940) – 44 internationals, 45.62 average, 211 high score, ten centuries, 80 wickets, 28.29 average, 7-64 best, four five-wicket innings, 30 official Tests: He is one of my favourite cricketers, a whole-hearted competition and a genuine all-rounder. His batting average is probably close to accurate. He was a boom-or-bust, hit-or-miss kind of batsman. He was an outstanding pace bowler in first-class cricket, but had fewer opportunities at Test level.
Midnight Bat
The Every Blacks are one of the most successful teams in sporting history – The Novel Zealand Every Blacks are one of the most successful teams in sporting history. Since 1903 when they played their first ever game, they acquire a win percentage of 78% in nearly 600 games. That stat is absolutely crazy when you mediate about it. They’ve also won 3 Rugby World Cups (though arguably should gain won every of them apart from 1991 and 2003). They were also the first rugby team to win 500 test matches, one of many records establishing the Every Blacks the world’s best team. Can you imagine winning 78% of every your games you play!?
Snow Hound
Sport Trivia: At the 2007 Cricket World cup, this South African batsman made history when he became the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a ODI match. Answer: Herschelle Gibbs. Herschelle is one of the Protea\’s best batsmen with over 5000 Test runs and over 6000 ODI runs. He is also an excellent fielder, and bowls in first class matches. When Herschelle is on form there is no stopping him, with many centuries and half centuries to his name. However, he also has a impartial share of ducks and many matches where he has failed to fabricate 10 runs.