Match Center

Right then, last edition's runners-up Pretoria Capitals are finally off the mark, leaving Joburg Super Kings as the only remaining team to get a win under their belt and move above them in the points table as well. Next up in SA20 2024 is a high-octane clash between MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals at the Newlands in Cape Town. That game will take place on Friday, 19 January and will begin at 9 pm IST (3.30 pm GMT) but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

Will Jacks is the Player of the Match for his fabulous ton and two wickets as well. He says that it was a good day with a good all-round performance. He says that they are lucky to get the win and start the tournament off the right way. Feels that it is important not to overhit the ball and keep things simple. Mentions that his plan with the ball is simple and tries to stick to his strengths. Adds that bowling comes naturally to him. Ends by saying that he finds it easier to switch on with the ball in match situations.

The Pretoria Capitals skipper, Wayne Parnell says that the victory is something that was needed for them and they did lose their way with the bat a bit but he isn't too unhappy with it and they were able to restrict the opposition. Adds that the opening batters made the wicket look better than it was so he knew they could defend the total and reckons that the boys showed what they were capable of last season and can replicate the same. Mentions that it wasn't a polished performance but is happy and the most important thing is to close out the game and will look to improve. Ends by saying that it is about having clear plans and executing those plans and it is important to take things ball by ball.

Keshav Maharaj, the captain of Durban's Super Giants says that it was a really good effort towards the end with the ball. Adds that they were loose upfront and bowled too many bad balls. Mentions that Junior Dala, Reece Topley and Marcus Stoinis pulled it back for them to have a chance. Feels that they could not get going with the bat and went down in the end. Shares that it is important to slow the tempo when the batters are batting like the Pretoria Capitals were. Ends by saying that there were a lot of positives in the game and they are looking forward to the next game in Durban.

The Presentation ceremony...

Durban's Super Giants didn't quite look at their best with the bat as most of their big names underperformed. After getting thumped for a long part in the first innings with the ball in hand, the Super Giants made a stellar comeback with Reece Topley, Junior Dala and Marcus Stoinis all bowling brilliantly at the death and Topley even finished with 3 wickets but they still did concede 200 runs. With no Nicholas Pooran in the side, Kyle Mayers and Matthew Breetzke opened the innings and the latter hogged most of the strike picking up boundaries but playing and missing a lot of deliveries as well. Breetzke got runs but Mayers was left at the other end and soon both of them perished. Quinton de Kock couldn't get going either and there was a big fightback from the lower order as JJ Smuts and Keemo Paul kept their side in it. Towards the end, Dwaine Pretorius and skipper Keshav Maharaj got a few boundaries away to make things interesting but in the end, it was just a bridge too far.

Pretoria Capitals got a fine start after having opted to bat first with both openers getting into the groove right away but they lost a couple of wickets in quick succession. Will Jacks played a sensational knock, scoring the fastest ton in the competition and set things up beautifully for his side to get around 225-230 runs but apart from Colin Ingram no one really added to the total and they finished on 204 runs. With the ball though, they did well to pick up wickets at regular intervals and kept the opposition in check for the majority of the chase but it got a bit nervy towards the end. Wayne Parnell picked up an important wicket but went for plenty of runs in the latter stages. The likes of Eathan Bosch and Adil Rashid bowled well but it was Will Jacks with the ball in hand as well who picked up a couple of important wickets to go along with his century.

Pheww, Pretoria Capitals almost made a mess of things at the back end with the ball as well but James Neesham held his nerves and got his side over the line. End of yet another high-scoring and fascinating contest in the SA20 2024 but eventually, the home team, Pretoria Capitals have been able to pick up their first win of the season and will be mightily relieved with that. On the other hand, Durban's Super Giants lose their first game leaving Paarl Royals as the only unbeaten team in the competition.

There it is, the first win of the season for the Pretoria Capitals! Neesham sees the batter advance and follows him with a slower delivery, on a length, Keshav Maharaj moves leg side to access the off side but miscues his shot towards wide long on for a single. An excellent final over from James Neesham to close out a 17-run victory for the Capitals!

Length delivery, on off, Dwaine Pretorius can only club this one towards long off and gets to the other end.

Swing and a miss now! Fuller in length, outside off, Dwaine Pretorius swings to go down the ground but misses out and gets beaten on the outside edge.

That should do it for the Pretoria Capitals! Slower and into the wicket, over middle, Keshav Maharaj waits on it and pulls it flat towards deep mid-wicket. He fails to find the gap and has to settle with a single.

Another single and James Neesham has started the final over well! Full and around off, Dwaine Pretorius gets underneath the ball and carves it away to deep cover for just a run.

Misses out does Keshav Maharaj! James Neesham misses his mark slightly and bowls it in the slot, on off, there to be put away but Keshav Maharaj drills it hard and straight to long off. A single taken.

James Neesham (2-0-23-1) will bowl the final over. Can he defend 22 runs?

Well-executed yorker and it will be just a single! On middle and leg, on a yorker length, Keshav Maharaj gets his bat down in time and digs it out towards deep mid-wicket. He wants to come back for the second run but the fielder in the deep is quick to swoop in and keeps it to just a single.

FOUR! Keshav Maharaj connects and connects well! In the slot from Parnell, outside off, Keshav Maharaj holds his shape and smacks it hard down the ground. Will Jacks runs to his right at long off but fails to get to it. Durban's Super Giants need 24 runs now off the last 7 balls!