JSK vs DSG

That brings us to the end of a rather longish day both for the players and in the commentary box. Just one more group game left before we head into the playoffs. Do join us tomorrow for many more sporting actions. Till the next time, this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Darpan Tikiya. Goodnight fellas! 

Keshav Maharaj (Durban Super Giants captain): Very much so. We owe it to our fans. Very proud of the boys with the way they turned up today. Yeah, obviously it was great to see some of the individual names stand up. What we did today was special and we can held our heads high. Look the powerplay we needed to be better. Today we were superb with the ball. We needed the batting to click more consistently. Kudos to Noor with the way he bowled. I think with the loss of Nicky P there was a thinking. Good lesson for us and hopefully we don't make the same mistakes in the future.

Faf du Plessis (Joburg Super Kings captain): Well the Donavan Ferreira injury didn't look good. We have to keep an eye on him. There was some excellent death overs from Donavan and Theekshana. The rain break came and we didn't respond well. Noor is a type of bowler who can get three very quickly. Yeah not necessarily anxiety, it's about how to switch off during the rain break and then switch on again. There is a small rebuilding phase, obviously that break didn't help us. Me getting out first ball to Noor just sold us down the river. There was moisture on the surface and it gripped a bit after the break. The first 10 overs with the bat wasn't great for us. We got a nice tempo before the break. Look it's about some rest. Everyone is physically and mentally drained. The first objective was the knockout stages. Today was seeing a few things, not playing our strongest XI. We will practice in Centurion and get yourself mentally prepared. The physios are working really hard.

Noor Ahmad (Durban Super Giants is the Player of the Match, here is what he has to say: "This tournament is incredible. I have enjoyed my time since the first season. Yes, this was not a great season but happy to finish well. I try to keep it simple, bowl with rhythm and keep it wicket to wicket. It is good to have responsibility. Even better to deliver for the team."

Durban Super Giants won by 11 runs

Heinrich Klaasen 76*(47) | Noor Ahmad 3/25(4)
Donavan Ferreira 51(22) | Hardus Viljoen 2/42(4)

Despite a thunderous knock towards the end from Donavan Ferreira, the Durban Super Giants managed to sign off their SA20 campaign with an 11-run win against the Joburg Super Kings. The results wouldn't have made any difference to the eventual standings which allowed DSG to come out all guns blazing and secure a consolation victory. It was always going to be a difficult run chase and the rain interruption affected their cause as run-scoring became rather difficult after that phase. 

Leus du Plooy came out to open the innings with Faf du Plessis and started with a boundary off the very first delivery of Keshav Maharaj. However, it was the only highlight of the knock as he departed in the next over as Wiaan Mulder induced a false shot. Faf du Plessis and Devon Conway started taking the attack to the DSG bowlers and that is when there was a long rain delay after there was persistent lightning and rain. 

When they returned an hour and a bit later, the match was reduced to a 16-over affair and the conditions became quite difficult for run scoring. Noor Ahmad bowled a splendid opening over, castling Faf du Plessis and Wihan Lubbe in a matter of two balls. He went for 14 runs in the next over but his opening over set the tone for the rest of the innings. Christopher King, making his debut bowled brilliantly and took a wicket for just 17 runs in his three overs. 

The pyrotechnics from Donavan Ferreira in the last few overs of the match turned the game on its head. It looked dead and buried for JSK and that is when Ferreira smashed 23 runs off a Keshav Maharaj over to ignite the hopes of the Super Kings. He plundered two massive sixes of Naveen Ul Haq in the 15th over but the target was too much in the final over. Dwaine Pretorius who didn't bowl earlier in the game, bowled a good final over as DSG managed to end their campaign with a win.

15.6 Dwaine Pretorius to Hardus Viljoen, FOUR BUT IT BARELY MATTERS! Slower ball, outside off. Viljoen dragged it from there, towards the midwicket boundary. DSG win by 11 runs (DLS method).

15.5 Dwaine Pretorius to Tabraiz Shamsi, hat-trick ball, WARDED OFF! Full ball, aimed at the stumps. Shamsi got behind it and presented the full face. The ball trickled past the bowler and a fumble from Dala at long-on allowed them a single.

15.4 Dwaine Pretorius to Lutho Sipamla, CAUGHT BY DALA! Pretorius must have nerves of steel. Remember, this is his first over of the night. It was a hard length delivery that Sipamla wanted to muscle down the ground. He did not catch it anywhere near the middle of the bat and the substitute fielder at long-on made no mistake.

Lutho Sipamla c sub (Junior Dala) b Dwaine Pretorius 0 (1b, 0x4, 0x6)

15.3 Dwaine Pretorius to Donovan Ferreira, around the wicket, IT WORKS! Angled across to outside off on a good length. Ferreira tried to drag it towards the leg side, but only managed to get an edge through to the keeper. This time, de Kock made no errors.

Donovan Ferreira c Quinton de Kock b Dwaine Pretorius 51 (22b, 2x4, 5x6)

Pretorius goes around the wicket.

Ferreira seems to have pulled a muscle here and it's not looking good for him. He has single-handedly kept JSK in the hunt. Some strapping just under his chest. 

15.2 Dwaine Pretorius to Donovan Ferreira, OFF THE EDGE! DE KOCK MISSES THE RUN OUT! Full ball, pace-off, outside off. The batter tried to heave it towards the on side but the ball rather flew over short third. Naveen ul haq backtracked, picked it on a bounce and returned a good throw. Alas, de Kock fumbled while collecting it. That brings up Ferreira's fifty.

15.1 Dwaine Pretorius to Donovan Ferreira, over the wicket, full ball, outside off, pace-off. RUNOUT! Ferreira hit it towards long-off, where Junior Dala was stationed. The substitute fielder once again exhibited that bullet arm of his and that resulted in Viljoen being run out at the bowler's end. Importantly, Ferreira is on strike.

Dwaine Pretorius, right-arm medium-fast will bowl the final over. He hasn't bowled earlier in this game. It will be a tough task coming into bowl at someone smoking at nearly 300. 

This has been a scintillating knock from Donavan Ferreira and guess what, JSK despite being so far behind in the game has managed to stay alive. They need 21 to win off the final over. This has been some effort from Ferreira.