Paarl Royals and JSK lock horns once more in the playoffs
The equation is simple for both Paarl Royals and Joburg Super Kings at Centurion in the Betway SA20 Season 4 Eliminator on Thursday: Win or bust!
Only one will be left standing after this encounter with the winner moving on to meet Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 2 at the Wanderers on Friday evening.
The two sides met in the last group match at the beginning of the week with JSK triumphing Royals to book this rematch. Royals will now be eager to exact revenge when it matters most.
We focus on three match-ups that could potentially swing the game in their team’s favour.
MATCH-UPS
Bjorn Fortuin (PR) v James Vince (JSK)
Fortuin, who also is known as ‘Mr Reliable’, owns the Powerplay for Royals. The left-arm spinner barely moves away from the stumps and regularly strikes with the new ball.
He will be targeting Vince upfront, while the Englishman knows that being able to keep Fortuin wicketless is half the battle won against Royals. Equally, as the most experienced JSK batter, Vince will be aiming to bat deep to keep a young and inexperienced middle-order calm in this high-pressure game.
Sikander Raza (PR) v Leus du Plooy (JSK)
Few players in the history of Betway SA20 have arrived and made such an immediate impact as the Zimbabwe T20I captain Raza. The allrounder has been magnificent with both ball and bat, and possibly in the absence of injured captain David Miller, Raza has a major leadership role to play for Royals.
Equally, Du Plooy has stepped into the big shoes of JSK skipper Faf du Plessis and has already shown he is more than capable of wearing them. Du Plooy was the difference between the two sides in the last group match and will be eager to do a repeat act.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (PR) v Nandre Burger (JSK)
Last season’s chief run-getter has discovered that the second season is not always as easy as the first. But Pretorius remains a match-winner capable of taking the game away from the opposition single-handedly.
Back at one of his favourite venues, Centurion, it may just be the catalyst for the youngster to explode.
Burger, the undisputed leader of the JSK attack, will be locked in on Pretorius. The southpaw is fit and firing again and ready to unleash fireballs. He has yet to take a major wicket haul this season and will be hoping it happens in the Eliminator by picking up Pretorius early on.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY
“It's nice obviously coming into this game off the back of a win, against the same opposition. It came at a good time, so I think the belief and confidence is back within the group.
“But it's a new day, a new game, and new conditions. We know it's going to be a different challenge against a good side, so we'll have to make some adjustments there.” - JSK stand-in captain James Vince
“I think we've had a good look at all their batters, and we've had a good look at all their bowlers. We know exactly what they're going to hit us with, and it allows you to plan accordingly.
“I'm very confident that if we turn up and play to our potential, we'll be more than fine.” - Royals allrounder Dan Lawrence.
MATCH FACTS
Who: Paarl Royals v Joburg Super Kings
What: The Eliminator, Betway SA20 S4
Where: Centurion
When: Thursday, January 22.
Start: 5:30pm (SAST)