In a close encounter, the Durban Super Giants emerged victorious against the Pretoria Capitals, securing their seventh win of the campaign in the SA T20 League. Matthew Breetzke’s explosive innings of 73 laid the foundation for the Super Giants, and Junior Dala’s exceptional five-wicket haul turned the tide in their favor.
Matthew Breetzke’s Blazing Start
Opting to bat first, Durban Super Giants got off to a flying start, courtesy of Matthew Breetzke’s aggressive strokeplay. Breetzke set the tone with a six in the very first over and continued to dominate, especially against Eathan Bosch, whom he hammered for 19 runs in the third over. Captain Quinton de Kock also joined the run-scoring spree, adding 17 runs in the fifth over. Despite de Kock’s departure, the Super Giants reached the halfway mark at 107/2, with Breetzke contributing 63 of those runs.
Senuran Muthusamy provided a much-needed breakthrough for Pretoria Capitals with a double-wicket over in the 12th, dismissing Breetzke for a brisk 73 off 46 balls. Muthusamy also removed Heinrich Klaasen before he could unleash his explosive style. Daryn Dupavillion further chipped away at the lower order, restricting the Super Giants to 174/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Junior Dala’s Heroics in Capitals’ Chase
The Capitals faced an uphill task in the chase, losing Phil Salt early to Wiaan Mulder. Kyle Verreynne tried to build momentum with a quick 15, but Naveen-ul-Haq dismissed him in the sixth over. Will Jacks aimed to push the Capitals forward, scoring 41, but fell victim to Dala in the ninth over, signaling the beginning of a remarkable bowling performance.
Junior Dala turned the match in favor of the Super Giants as he went on to pick five crucial wickets. The Capitals kept losing wickets at regular intervals, and at 115/6 in 15 overs, the game seemed nearly out of reach. However, captain Wayne Parnell, Bosch, and Adil Rashid launched a late counterattack, reducing the required runs from 60 off 30 to 36 off 12. Despite their efforts, Dala’s two wickets in the penultimate over dashed any hopes of a miraculous comeback. Dala finished with figures of 5 for 26, ensuring a hard-fought victory for the Durban Super Giants by 8 runs.
Junior Dala’s exceptional five-wicket haul played a pivotal role in the Durban Super Giants’ victory, earning him the well-deserved title of Player of the Match.
Race for Playoffs Intensifies
The defeat leaves Pretoria Capitals in a precarious position, now three points behind the fourth-placed Joburg Super Kings. The battle for the last playoff spot intensifies, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the International League T20. The Pretoria Capitals will play the MI Cape Town in their last 2 matches and wins in them can secure the Capitals a spot in the playoffs.
Scorecard
Durban Super Giants Batting Pretoria Capitals Batting
Pretoria Capitals Bowling Durban Super Giants Bowling
