Staff Reporter.
Leus du Plooy hit an unbeaten fifty as the Joburg Super Kings put on a superb bowling effort to secure a 76-run victory against MI Cape Town at the Wanderers on Monday.
The Joburg Super Kings sealed a Betway SA20 home semifinal with the bonus-point win as Faf du Plessis’ side finished second following the round-robin stages.
Chasing a competitive 190 to win, MI Cape Town’s top-order crumbled against spin as Maheesh Theekshana trapped LBW Wesley Marshall for four.
The only partnership of note was a 33-run partnership between Rassie van der Dussen and Grant Roelofsen before Kyle Simmonds saw the back of the duo in one over.
Simmonds dismissed opener Van der Dussen, who advanced and lofted the ball straight to the fielder at the deep for 20.
Roelofsen stayed in his crease and was subsequently bowled for 21 off 24 balls by Simmonds, who ended on figures of three for 23.
Teen Dewald Brevis was the only glimmer of hope for MI Cape Town, but the side continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
Gerald Coetzee became the Betway SA20 leading wicket-taker as he ended with figures of three for 27.
Brevis top-scored with 27 off 26 balls (hitting two sixes) before Coetzee bowled him out as MI Cape Town were bundled out for 113 in 17.5 overs.
Earlier on, the hosts lost their skipper off the first ball of the innings as George Linde got Du Plessis to loft it to a fumbling Rashid Khan at short cover.
England’s Sam Curran struck in his opening over as Reeza Hendricks was caught in the deep for a duck.
The Super Kings lost their third wicket inside four overs as Sibonelo Makhanya could only make four before he threw his bat at Curran (2/26) and was easily caught at mid-on.
A 46-run stand between Matthew Wade and Leus du Plooy got the Super Kings back on track, but Jofra Archer got the breakthrough.
Du Plooy soldiered the Super Kings innings as he scored 11 fours and a six to remain unbeaten on 81 off 48 balls.
Du Plooy’s fifty and Romario Shepherd’s handy 15 not out saw the hosts post a competitive total of 189 in their 20 allotted overs.
JOBURG SUPER KINGS: Faf du Plessis, Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Wade, Donovan Ferreira, Leus du Plooy, Romario Shepherd, Sibonelo Makhanya, Gerald Coetzee, Kyle Simmonds, Lizaad Williams, Maheesh Theekshana
MI CAPE TOWN: Dewald Brevis, Tim David, Rassie van der Dussen, Delano Potgieter, Wesley Marshall, George Linde, Rashid Khan (captain), Odean Smith, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Kagiso Rabada.