Fast bowlers dazzle as Super Kings dismantle Royals in the Eliminator
Sam Cook and Nandre Burger combined to take seven wickets, wreaking havoc on Paarl Royals as Joburg Super Kings emerged victorious in the SA20 Eliminator held on Wednesday (February 7) at the Wanderers Stadium.
Making his debut in the competition, Cook claimed four wickets while Burger secured three, contributing to Paarl Royals’ downfall as they were dismissed for 138.
Despite a promising start by Royals, with Jason Roy aggressively taking on Burger in the first over and Jos Buttler launching Cook for a six in the subsequent over, their momentum was short-lived.
Buttler’s dismissal off the next ball, followed by Mitchell Van Buuren’s departure, ignited jubilant celebrations spearheaded by the 44-year-old Imran Tahir’s exceptional catch.
Burger continued his dominance in the following over, dismissing the dangerous Roy, who had amassed 24 runs off just 11 balls.
Although Dane Vilas and David Miller provided some stability, Burger’s return spelled doom for Vilas, quashing any hopes of a Royals’ resurgence.
Despite Miller’s valiant 47 off 40 balls, crossing the 10,000-run mark in T20 cricket, the lower order succumbed to the combined efforts of Tahir and Cook.
In the chase, Leus du Plooy’s aggressive start propelled Super Kings, with a flurry of boundaries and sixes off Codi Yusuf and Obed McCoy.
Faf du Plessis played a supporting role as du Plooy dominated the powerplay, guiding Super Kings to a commanding position with 63 runs in the first six overs.
The partnership between du Plooy and du Plessis flourished, adding 103 runs in the initial ten overs.
Despite du Plooy’s departure for a well-made 68, du Plessis continued the onslaught, securing another half-century and steering Super Kings to victory with 40 balls to spare.
With this win, Royals, who had initially won five out of their first six games, suffered a disappointing five-match losing streak, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
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