JOHANNESBURG: Leus du Plooy played a sensational knock of 75 off 40 before Aaron Phangiso stormed the batting line to help Joburg Super Kings clinch a close win over Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, here on Tuesday. 

Plooy led the batting charge along with Reeza Hendricks, who made 45 from 50 to steer Super Kings to a competitive total of 168/6 after they were put to bat.

Capitals, in return, were held by the sharp turn of Phangiso, who claimed four wickets for 32 runs and help his side restrict the opponent seven runs short of the target.

Plooy and Hendricks anchored the Super Kings’ batting with a valiant 73-run partnership for the second wicket after skipper Faf du Plessis fell prey to Anrich Nortje on 27 off 16. The two sailed their side to 118 before Nortje grabbed the breakthrough in the 16th over, dismissing Hendricks.

Following Hendrick’s dismissal, Plooy took the charge and brisked the run rate without any effective support from the other end as Eathan Bosch (3-12) and Wayne Parnell (1-39) hunted down the next four batters in quick succession.

During his unbeaten 75, Plooy smashed seven fours and five sixes.

Capitals, however, faced the first jolt in the fourth over when Alzarri Joseph struck two back-to-back wickets, removing Will Jack (16 off 13), and Rilee Rossouw on a golden duck. 

While Phil Salt thrashed 29 from 15 balls, the middle order also chipped in with humble contributions by Theunis de Bruyn (18), Shane Dadswell (22) and James Neesham (24) before they all fell prey to Phangiso. 

With the equation coming down to seven required runs from two balls, Romario Shepherd struck two in two balls to bundle out Capitals for 162. 

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