that'll do! Slams the long-levered drive, high over extra cover! Bringing the blade down like a guillotine, on the ball, and on DSG's prospects in this tournament!
Super Giants vs Super Kings, 22nd Match at Johannesburg, SA20, Jan 24 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Super Kings won by 8 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
9.08pm That'll do for tonight, thanks for joining us, from Miller, Danyal and Chandan, good night!
9.03pm Time for the presentations. No prizes for guessing who walked away with the prize... Faf du Plessis is Player of the Match. But first here's De Kock.
"Faf played outstanding tonight, his knowledge and experience showed out. We needed early wickets but still tried, they never gave their wickets away. it's been tough, we fought hard, not going our way."
And here's Faf in his own words. "Important for me to convert those scores, all the leagues I play, I try to get hundreds. Nice wicket, a bit sticky, then typical Wanderers, once you get in... Topley bowled well, Maharaj got the ball to stick, felt we were behind the rate, then got the momentum back. Reeza, I was saying get me on strike, batting is about the partnership, we knew the back-end would be easier. Encouraging him to hit the ball as late as possible. This tournament is unbelievable, so great to play in front of full crowds. The Bullring is on fire!"
8.55pm Well, what a chase that was. Utterly stunning from du Plessis, an innings made all the more extraordinary by the struggle at the other end, where Reeza Hendricks was batting at a tempo four times slower than his skipper. He eventually redeemed his strike-rate towards the end of their hefty 157-run stand, but his departure was some justice for Durban's bowlers. Mayers was effective up top and Topley bowled superbly and without luck. But the rest proved slim pickings.
So, a very important win for Joburg, who have brought themselves back into the chasing pack, on 16 points. Durban are adrift at the foot of the table now, on 8
Well, it should be a formality now. The skipper has the honours...
outside off, good lift on a sixth-stump line, left alone
on the back foot, nudged to square leg and good running brings two as they race back
round the wicket, and that's a creamy drive to ease any pressure! Leaning on the full length, picking the gap in the covers, eluding a desperate chase. JSK are nearly home now
Vinod Rajpal: "22 matches to see the first 3 figure score by an batsmen in SA20, hey Andrew...did this league too long to register the 1st hundred as compared to other leagues played worldwide ? what does your statsman say ?" Can't remember how long the Hundred too for Smeed's three figures. But they handicapped themselves by sawing off 20 balls!
thrashes at the wide one, a thin snick to de Kock! Now then... too little too late? Probably, but a precious dot all the same. Extra bounce on the full length, and Ferreira couldn't control his wild impulses
falls across his crease in an attempted ramp, nearly bowled behind his legs as the ball hops over middle stump
very full, wide line again, inside-edged on a drag to leg, slips behind square for another single
very wide, rolled his fingers and lost his direction. Bonus run
Two overs for DSG to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Not sure they've got many bunnies left in there. But they do have Wiaan Mulder...
Mo: "The Faf show is so entertaining, memories of how Dhoni always brings the super kings back to life with a majestic innings, next thing you kbow they are in with a chance of making the payoffs."
skips to the pitch, attempted thwack through the off side, but can't connect on the wide line
very full, thumps the pads on the angle into the stumps, deflected out to cover
bouncer, ducked
flipped off the toes to deep midwicket
full again, and that's eased down to the deep point rope, swept up in the deep
full length, drilled through the covers! Du Plessis flings his bat in triumph, the first SA20 hundred belongs to a South African big dog! A stunning captain's knock, raucously acclaimed by the Bullring!
tight line, back of a length, poked to cover, can't get it away. Topley does his bit to take it deep...but it's a big ask now for DSG
up on the toes, poked back down the pitch
Shishir Parajul: "Had Hendricks been in touch from beginning, JSK might have got the bonus point while chasing 179! Crazy!!"
outside off, wafted down through deep backward point. Deep third was too fine to cut that off
Due reward for Topley. Not sure even he can save this one now... but we shall see
pounded to cover, to end a baffling innings! A ten-wicket win wouldn't have been a fair representation of this stand, but it's not to be. Still, at least Hendricks found his range in the end. Threw the bat at a wide one, but couldn't pick the gap
width on a full length, carved away through deep backward point! At last, Hendricks is up to a run a ball!
thumped at the top of the bounce, tight line to off stump, into the covers. Faf moves to 99
Over 20 • JSK 182/2
Super Kings won by 8 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)