Playoffs qualification the prize for DSG and Royals on Sunday

Maintaining momentum will be key in the road to the playoffs

Sunday, 28 January 2024: The Road to the Betway SA20 Playoffs leads to Kingsmead on Sunday afternoon, where Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) host Paarl Royals (Royals) in a rematch of Friday’s fixture in the winelands.

While Friday’s bonus point win saw DSG both terminate Royals’ unbeaten home dash in 2024 to recede top of the log standings on 23 points (one above Royals), the winner today will be the first to secure a playoffs berth in Betway SA20 Season 2. MI Cape Town, currently in fifth plot, can only acquire to a maximum of 24 points which either DSG or Royals would exceed with a win.

Friday’s match saw the return to form of Quinton de Kock, whose 83 not out did just as DSG head coach Lance Klusener predicted by “winning us gigantic games”. DSG captain Keshav Maharaj echoed their coach’s assertion post-match.

“We saw the class of Quinny and I’m so satisfied for him that he’s back in his rhythms. He showed the positive intent of an ‘in’ batter at the finish and helped us and then Klaasie [Heinrich Klaasen] – we know what he can execute – was exceptional at the conclude. I’m very proud of the boys.”

Seeing De Kock walked out to bat at number 4 rather than open or first drop, surprised many observers but Maharaj confirmed that he embraced the change of position.

“Quinny’s quite easy to handle, I contemplate he’d bat anywhere in the batting lineup so full credit to him for taking on the responsibility and showing such maturity throughout the innings. The way he paced his innings was absolutely superb and sublime to watch.”

Meanwhile, with playoffs qualification every but secured, Maharaj cautioned his team against getting ahead of themselves.

“It’s not about taking our foot off the gas and getting complacent. It’s about making sure we still playing to our rhythms and executing our skills. If you asked us before the Cape trip what we thought of two bonus points then we would gain taken it happily.”

For Maharaj, finishing first or second at the finish of the group stage has to be DSG goal now.

“It’s crucial, you know it’s always nice to qualify but if you give yourself an extra bite of the cherry then it makes life a dinky bit less tense but we’re taking nothing for granted because we still want to depart as high as we can in this competition and place ourselves in a position to finish in the top two.”

Royals’ captain David Miller, who returned from a calf injury that he confirmed was “strong”, was keen to not harp on about Friday’s blip.

“I don’t mediate there’s anything to be concerned about, just a couple of conversations to be had around a few areas like what the guys were thinking in certain moments of the game.”

The hard-hitting left-hander spoke in a similar vein to Maharaj when looking forward to the last three group stage matches before the playoffs.

“I mediate we’ve been really consistent throughout the competition. That was only our second game lost in seven games so we’re on a marvelous path, but momentum is key here so we don’t want to hold our foot off the gas towards the back-end. We want to really stamp our authority and play the cricket that we know – unfortunately this game, T20, can sometimes disappear like that.”

This match will start at 15h30 (SAST).

FULL SQUADS FOR KINGSMEAD

Durban’s Super Giants: Keshav Maharaj (captain), Noor Ahmad, Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Mayers, Wiaan Mulder, Naveen-ul-Haq Murid, Bryce Parsons, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jon-Jon Smuts, Jason Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Prenelan Subrayen, Reece Topley.

Paarl Royals: David Miller (captain), Ferisco Adams, Fabian Allen, Jos Buttler, Keith Dudgeon, Bjorn Fortuin, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe, Obed McCoy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jason Roy, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lorcan Tucker, John Turner, Mitchell van Buuren, Dane Vilas, Codi Yusuf.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Match referee: Zama Ndamane

Standing umpires: Abdoellah Steenkamp and Abongile Sodumo

TV umpire: Stephen Harris

Reserve umpire: Ryan Hendricks

Source: cricket.co.za

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