DURBAN: Donovan Ferreira smashed an unbeaten 82 from 40 balls to help Joburg Super Kings seal the opening-game win in the SA20 as they beat Durban Super Giants by 16 runs on Wednesday.
Faf du Plessis’s Super Kings showcased great batting muscle after they elected to bat, posting a mammoth 191-run target. The home side, in return, managed 174/5 despite skipper Quinton de Kock’s blistering 78 from 52 balls.
Following their first win, Super Kings went second in the table below MI Cape Town, who thrashed Paarl Royals by eight wickets in the inaugural match on Tuesday to grab a bonus point in addition to four win points.
The visiting side underwent an unwanted start as openers Reeza Hedrick and Janneman Malan fell cheaply, sliding Super Kings to 8/2 in 2.5 overs. But, a valiant fightback from the skipper du Plessis and late fireworks from Ferreira and Romario Shepherd steered the side to 191/6 in 20 overs.
The captain made 39 from 33 balls before he was dismissed by Akila Dananjaya in the 14th over. Shepherd and Ferreira, then gathered an astounding 87-run partnership for the sixth wicket, taking their team from 99/5 to 186/5 before the last two balls of the final over.
Jason Holder castled Shepherd on the penultimate delivery for 40 off 19 balls before George Garton smashed a boundary on the final ball.
Super Giants, however, hoisted a solid start to their chase, scoring 98 without loss before West Indies’ Kyle Myers was stumped out off Aaron Phangiso (1-37) in the 12th over.
De Kock continued for a short while but a horrendous misjudgment off Feirara’s bowling found the tow edge of the bat and went straight to the bowler.
With set batters leaving the crease, Super Giants lost control of the control as they managed only 48 runs in the last six overs while losing three more wickets.
Ferreira was adjudged player of the match for his batting might and an impactful wicket of the Super Giants skipper that derailed the chase.
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