Heinrich Klaasen helped Durban’s Super Giants end a disappointing campaign with a win.

Photo: Arjun Singh/Sportzpics

Durban’s Super Giants ended a poor SA20 campaign with an 11-run DLS victory over the Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers on Saturday.

As a result, JSK finish fourth on the log and will face the third-placed Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the eliminator playoff in Centurion on Wednesday.

DSG’s Heinrich Klaasen gave the visiting fans something to cheer about with a blitzkrieg 76* off 47 balls (3×4, 6×6). In the process, he became the first batsman to pass 1,000 runs in SA20.

Klaasen shared two solid partnerships of 64 off 43 balls with Kane Williamson (22) and an unbroken 70 off 43 balls with Wiaan Mulder (30*) to lift DSG to 173-4.

Super Kings seamer Lutho Sipamla once again delivered an impressive four-over spell, of 1-12, which included the big wicket of Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.

HIGHLIGHTS: Joburg Super Kings vs Durban’s Super Giants (SA20)

JSK’s run-chase was interrupted by a rain delay that set in at 7:45pm with the hosts on 31-1 after 3.1 overs. When play resumed at 9pm, their innings was reduced to 16 overs with the new target set at 147.

The home team were unable to create any momentum after the restart with DSG leg-spinner Noor Ahmad setting them back with a fantastic spell of 3-25.

DSG also handed rookie CJ King an SA20 debut and the youngster earned his maiden reward when he claimed the scalp of England’s double white-ball world champion Moeen Ali.

But that brought Donovan Ferreira (51 off 22 balls; two fours, five sixes) to the crease and the JSK all-rounder proceeded to smash the fastest half-century of the season off just 21 balls to reduce the target to 17 off the final four deliveries.

DSG all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius held his nerve though by removing Ferreira and Sipamla off successive deliveries to close out the contest.

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

Durban’s Super Giants claimed a consolation win at the Wanderers.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann produced a 91-run partnership in the Paarl Royals’ run chase.

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

The Paarl Royals completed a historic five-game 100% home record at Boland Park on Monday.

It is the first time any team has gone unbeaten at home throughout the league phase of the competition, with the previous best being Joburg Super Kings’ four victories and one washout at the Wanderers in the inaugural 2023 season.

But the Royals have gone one step further with their thrilling six-wicket victory over Durban’s Super Giants, who have now been eliminated as last season’s runners-up can now no longer qualify for the playoffs.

The cream of South Africa’s young talent, Luhan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka, played a major role in the Royals maintaining their stranglehold on the top of the SA20 table. The Royals move to 28 points.

The teenage duo did the double act, with Maphaka delivering his best performance of the competition thus far with fine figures of 2-22 to restrict DSG to 143-7 before Pretorius clubbed 43 off 29 balls (five fours, one six) in the successful run chase.

Pretorius reclaimed the top run-scorer position from his opening partner Joe Root, who was trapped lbw off the first ball of the innings on Monday, by becoming the first batsman to pass the 300-run mark this season.

The Royals have certainly unearthed new young batsmen this season and Hermann also continued his dream debut SA20 season with a superb 59 off 51 balls (four fours, two sixes) to set up the chase.

Hermann showed great innovation, particularly against the spinners as he swept and reverse-swept with confidence.

But it was left to all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem to smash the winning six with just two balls remaining to take the Royals over the line.

HIGHLIGHTS: Paarl Royals vs Durban’s Super Giants (SA20)

After playing five spinners in their lineup in the previous match, the Royals rejigged their bowling lineup with the return of Galiem and Maphaka to the starting XI.

Maphaka delivered his best performance of the competition thus far, striking upfront and at the death.

He sent down a peach that burst through Brandon King’s defence upfront before flummoxing Heinrich Klaasen with a slower ball.

“I was really itching to put in a good performance. I had not been performing too well, wanted to put up a good performance for the boys and the team,” Maphaka said.

“I have bowled to him [Klaasen] a few times in the nets. That [slower ball] seemed to work. I probably trained that since I was 12 years old, have it down nicely, so I tried to bowl it, and I was pleased it came off.”

The Super Giants will be ruing a season where luck has deserted them, with Keshav Maharaj’s team not finding form when they needed it most.

Australian T20 World Cup winner Marcus Stoinis tried his best to make an impact with his maiden SA20 half-century off just 35 balls (four fours, two sixes).

He finished unbeaten on 55 and partnered with Kane Williamson (45 off 36 balls) in a 53-run partnership.

Stoinis was particularly severe on Root, taking 24 runs off 11 deliveries sent down by the off spinner, including two maximums in the 18th over.

But it was ultimately not enough as the Royals’ victory parade marched on.

The Royals’ only concern will be the fitness of captain David Miller, who left the field during DSG’s innings and did not come out to bat in the run chase.

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

The Paarl Royals ended Durban’s Super Giants’ slim SA20 playoff hopes.

MI Cape Town thrilled another sold-out Saturday evening Newlands crowd with a bonus point victory over Durban’s Super Giants.

Ryan Rickelton led a superb run-chase with 63 off 41 balls upfront with opening partner Rassie van der Dussen (24 off 18 balls). The duo ate a chunk out of the 150-run target with a 75-run first wicket partnership in just 8.1 overs.

This allowed Dewald Brevis (26* off 16 balls) and George Linde (29* off eight balls) to power MI Cape Town home with 5.1 overs remaining.

Linde, in particular, was in a destructive mood by smashing the Super Giants’ new Australian recruit Marcus Stoinis for four sixes in an over to bring the match to a speedy close.

HIGHLIGHTS: MI Cape Town vs Durban’s Super Giants (SA20)

Earlier, Heinrich Klaasen (66 off 43 balls) and Kane Williamson (56* off 44 balls) tried their best to get the DSG up to a competitive 149-6 after slumping to 22-4.

Unfortunately, it was not enough on the night as Lance Klusener’s team are now perilously close to missing out on the playoffs this season.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Sportzpics

Ryan Rickelton scored 63 at Newlands as MI Cape Town added to Durban’s Super Giants’ woes.

Ryan Rickelton and George Linde helped MI Cape Town claim a bonus-point win against Durban’s Super Giants at Newlands.

The SA20 is gearing up for a super weekend of high-stakes action with all six teams battling for a place in the playoff positions.

Defending champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and the Joburg Super Kings kick-start the proceedings in the first of their two contests this weekend at St George’s Park on Friday.

The Sunrisers have already collected two consecutive home victories – and their third overall – this week.

JSK, meanwhile, will be eager to build up some momentum before they return home for a string of four matches, starting against the Sunrisers at the Wanderers on Sunday.

In between, the SA20 travelling caravan makes a double stop on a searing Saturday in the Western Cape.

With the mercury levels set to reach 37°C at Boland Park for a mid-day start, the table-topping Paarl Royals will look to increase the heat even further on the Pretoria Capitals.

The Royals have been in supreme form at home and will be eager to become the first team to secure a home playoff spot this season.

“I think it’s super key to get that playoff place as soon as possible,” said Royals batsman Mitchell van Buuren. “The first two seasons we sort of let it slip towards the back end of the comp and ended up playing the eliminator game.

“This year we would love to finish first, or at least in the top two, and get into the first qualifier and hopefully get into the final straight away.”

The Capitals, meanwhile, have been beset by injuries, particularly to their fast bowlers, with former captain Wayne Parnell the latest to be ruled out, joining Anrich Nortje and Daryn Dupavillion on the sidelines.

Jonathan Trott’s team will hope to find a way to rediscover the form that saw the Capitals finish runners-up in the inaugural 2023 season.

Finally, all roads lead to Newlands on Saturday evening for the hottest ticket in the Mother City when MI Cape Town host Durban’s Super Giants.

Robin Peterson’s side has delivered a string of impressive performances at home this season and will be eager to entertain the Newlands faithful again.

DSG, however, find themselves in the must-win position of having to claim all the points on offer from their final three matches, starting with the clash against MICT, if they are to squeeze into the playoffs.

“It has been disappointing, but for us it’s pretty simple now. We’ve got to win three from three to stand a chance. So let’s hope ​ we can do it and turn it around,” said DSG all-rounder Jon Jon Smuts.

“Look, to be honest, we’ve all been up for it. I think we’ve got a really strong side. I think if you look at it, we’re obviously very disappointed in ourselves and the performances we put in.

“And guys have a lot of self-pride. So I know the guys are really desperate to do well. Let’s hope in the next few games we can somehow show what we’re capable of.”

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics