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An outstanding allround performance from the Joburg Super Kings saw them smash the Paarl Royals by nine wickets in the Betway SA20 Eliminator at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.
Sam Cook (3.5-0-24-4), Nandre Burger (4-0-26-3) and Imran Tahir (4-0-33-2) combined to dismiss the Royals for just 138 in 18.5 overs after Faf du Plessis had won the toss and elected to field first. In reply, Leus du Plooy and Du Plessis combined with half-centuries to help JSK reach 139 for one with 40 balls remaining in the bank.
Man of the match Cook, playing in his first SA20 match having replaced the injured Lizaad Williams, secured the best bowling figures by a debutant as he claimed the wickets of Jos Buttler (10), Mitchell van Buuren (0), Codi Yusuf (11) and Obed McCoy (4).
Burger was aggressive up front and was rewarded with the scalps of Jason Roy (24), Dane Vilas (21) and Wihan Lubbe (4).
Tahir, at the tender age of 44, claimed the wickets of Bjorn Fortuin, clean-bowled and then with his final ball of the evening, having David Miller edging behind to Donovan Ferreira behind the stumps. But, Tahir was energetic in the field, claiming two excellent catches, first at short fine leg, running back and claiming Van Buuren over his shoulder before nabbing Vilas at deep fine leg with a fine diving catch.
Roy struck four boundaries and a six from 14 balls but then threw his wicket away, flashing Burger to Du Plessis at mid-off. Miller, who struck four boundaries and two sixes from 40 deliveries, tried valiantly to keep his side in the game and shared a stand of 44 from 34 balls for the fourth wicket with Vilas.
In reply, Du Plooy and Du Plessis made light work of the required target, securing their second century stand of the competition with Du Plooy striking seven boundaries and two maximums from 43 balls. The pair raised their century stand in 66 deliveries with Du Plooy bringing up his fifty in 29 balls before dancing down the track and being stumped by Buttler from the bowling of Tabraiz Shamsi (4-0-43-1).
Du Plessis, who has struggled for some form this season, ended unbeaten on 55 from 34 balls with three fours and three sixes with Reeze Hendricks at the other end, unbeaten on five from eight balls.
The Royals struggled throughout, with Shamsi bowling no less than four no-balls and a wide while McCoy sent down four wides and a no-ball as the Royals conceded 11 extras in trying to defend a low total.
The Super Kings will now prep for the second Qualifier against the Durban Super Giants here at the Wanderers tomorrow with the winner travelling to Cape Town to take on the defending champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final of the SA20.
