The stakes cannot be any higher when Sunrisers Eastern Cape face Pretoria Capitals at Kingsmead today in Betway SA20 Season 4 Qualifier 1.
These two sides last met in a playoff match back in the maiden Betway SA20 Final at the Wanderers in 2023.
They are now seeking a return to the promised land. The winner heads directly to Newlands for the Final on Sunday, January 25. The loser goes again in Qualifier 2 on Friday, January 23 at the Wanderers.
Matches of such magnitude are often decided by small margins with a moment of individual brilliance swinging the game in their side’s favour.
We look at three matchups that could potentially be the gamechanger in Qualifier 1.
He is currently in seventh position with 10 wickets, but Jansen has shown in previous seasons that he keeps his best performances for the playoffs, notably a five-wicket haul in the Season 2 final at Newlands.
The lanky Sunrisers new-ball bowler poses a major threat in the Powerplay and will have the dangerous Hope in his sights.
The West Indian has been the lone ranger at the top of the order for the Capitals with 264 runs at an average of 33 and 136.08 strike-rate.
He will also have fond Kingsmead memories after striking a career-best unbeaten 118 here in KwaZulu-Natal just last week and will enjoy returning to a happy hunting ground.
Quinton de Kock (SEC) v Lizaad Williams (PC)
De Kock 2.0 has been a revelation for Sunrisers. Having reacquainted with his mentors Adrian Birrell and Russell Domingo, De Kock has enjoyed a new lease of life with the veteran opening batter providing Sunrisers with explosive starts.
He is currently second on the run-scoring charts with 328 at an average of 46.86 and 149.09 strike-rate and is poised to overtake Ryan Rickelton at the top. It is no coincidence that De Kock’s two failures in the competition has resulted in two Sunrisers defeats, such is the 33-year-old’s value to his team.
Williams will relish the challenge of going head-to-head with De Kock. There is arguably no bowler in the country with a bigger heart and spirit than Williams.
The lively fast bowler showed this when closing out the game against Joburg Super Kings, by yelling enthusiastically ‘You can count on me! You can count on me!’.
Capitals will be hoping they can in a bid to contain De Kock.
Anrich Nortje (SEC) v Sherfane Rutherford (PC)
This blockbuster face-off is worth the price of the entry ticket alone. Genuine pace up against raw power. A cosmic collision.
Nortje has ramped up the speed gun, clocking deliveries in excess of 150km/h, since returning from injury. He will no doubt be eager to charge in against his former team after being released ahead of the Season 4 auction.
Rutherford, meanwhile, has bludgeoned sixes from ball one in Betway SA20 and virtually single-handedly carried the Capitals’ campaign on his broad shoulders with some exceptional ball-striking.
But will be able to smash Nortje’s rockets aimed at his jugular? A fascinating contest awaits …
Betway SA20 Qualifier 1 and along with the remaining Playoff matches and Final will feature enhanced ball tracking and DRS (as an element of SMART replays) and DRS via Hawkeye.
All Umpire Review no-ball decisions for height of delivery will use the enhanced ball tracking and player measurement data. All players involved in the Playoff and Final matches will have been measured for three height measurements: waist height, shoulder height and top of helmet.
Additionally, the ability of umpires to review wide calls for height will be permitted and the enhanced ball tracking used for such decisions. Wides for line will not be reviewed – this will remain an on-field judgement call by standing officials.
Stick Shift
Although cricket is a non-contact sport, players still experience injuries during a game, some of which are career-ending or even fatal. The first known player to have a deadly accident while playing cricket is Jasper Vinall of England. He was hit by a bat on the forehead and died two weeks later.
hex panther
The Nelson is a term used to refer to a score of 111 by an individual player or a team. This is also used for multiples of 111, such as 222 (double Nelson), 333 (triple Nelson), and so on. The Nelson is considered unlucky because the number 111 is similar in appearance to a bail-less wicket. Players and fans believe that something bad or unlucky would occur when a player or team reaches that score.