The Proteas T20 captain showed he is the man for the big occasion, smashing 108 off 58 balls (12x4, 5x6), with DSG’s season on the line. Having struck his first half-century of the season against Royals in his previous game in Paarl, he proved it wasn’t all luck the first time.  

He started well and claimed 25 of the 46 runs DSG scored in the powerplay. The match was evenly poised when DSG were 53/3 after 7.2 overs with all three their big overseas signings Sunil Narine, Jos Buttler and Kane Williamson back in the hut. 

It was left to Markram and Heinrich Klaasen to resurrect the innings with a 81-run partnership off just 48 balls. The hosts eventually posted 189/7 in their 20 overs and left Royals with a lot of work to do.

Breakthrough

West Indian spin bowler Sunil Narine produced the opening breakthrough when he bowled Kyle Verreyne for 23 off 19 balls in the fourth over. Lhuan-dré Pretorius (7 off 14), Rubin Hermann (18 off 19), David Miller (5 off 6) and Delano Potgieter (5 off 5) leaving Royals reeling on 65 for 5 in the 12th over. 

Raza (21 off 21) and Bjorn Fortuin (35 not out off 24) provided some resistance but DSG restricted the visitors to only 131/9.

But despite the comprehensive victory DSG’s playoffs fate was still in the balance as a Joburg Super Kings (JSK) victory over Pretoria Capitals (PR) on Saturday evening at the Wanderers would eliminate both Super Giants and MI Cape Town (MICT).

Qualification scenario’s. Photo: Betway SA20

The writing seemed to be on the wall for DSG and MICT when JSK reduced Capitals to an extraordinary 7/5 after 4.5 overs. The Super Kings seamers were virtually unplayable with Dan Worrall, Nandre Burger and Wiaan Mulder all chipping in to place Capitals deep in the quagmire.

But that set the stage for the greatest comeback in SA20 history with Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford rebuilding Capitals innings with a remarkable 103-run sixth-wicket stand. 

The pair had already shown they enjoy batting together during this competition but took it to the next level at the Bullring. JSK will rue dropping Brevis on three as the big-hitting right-hander went on to score 53 off 47 balls (4x4, 3x6).

Rutherford, though, was once again the mainstay of the Capitals’ innings with an unbeaten 74 (50 balls, 10x4, 2x6) as his batting masterclass lifted the visitors to an improbable 143/6.

Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford rescuing Pretoria Capitals' innings. Photo: X (Pretoria Capitals)

The Capitals bowling unit were determined to defend their total and led by the irrepressible Lizaad Williams (3/25) and captain Keshav Maharaj (3/15). The Centurion-based team restricted Joburg Super Kings to 122/8 to complete one of the most sensational comebacks in T20 franchise cricket history.

Capitals’ victory propelled Maharaj’s outfit to top of the three-pronged leaderboard on 24 points along with Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg