Leus du Plooy stars as Joburg Super Kings edge Pretoria Capitals in SA20 thriller at the Wanderers
- Planet Sport writer
- 17 January 2023
Leus du Plooy and Aaron Phangiso were the stars of the show as Joburg Super Kings bounced back with a six-run victory against the Pretoria Capitals in their SA20 clash at the Wanderers on Tuesday.
It was the first time the SA20 caravan had rolled into Johannesburg and the locals certainly came out in their thousands to support their new team, the Joburg Super Kings.
Whistles were handed out to the yellow-clad crowd before the game which led to the Bullring buzzing throughout.
There certainly are very few cricket grounds in the world when packed that can generate a fervent atmosphere like the Wanderers.
Buoyed by the support of their 12th man, the Super Kings charged to a thrilling six-run victory over their northern neighbours.
The match was only decided in the final over when Joburg Super Kings' West Indies international Romario Shepherd successfully defended 10 runs off the final over, during which he dismissed both Adil Rashid and last man Anrich Nortje.
Shepherd may have completed the job for the Super Kings, but he received solid support from fellow West Indian Alzarri Joseph (2/34) and of course Phangiso.
The left-arm spinner was in superb form as he lit up the Bullring with figures of 4/32 that stemmed the Capitals' momentum during the middle overs.
The Super Kings came into this match on the back of two heavy defeats in the Western Cape last weekend, and were desperate to get their campaign back on track.
The lack of runs at the top was certainly remedied on Tuesday evening with new opening partnership Reeza Hendricks (45) and captain Faf du Plessis (27) setting the platform early on.
This allowed Du Plooy to play freely when he came to the wicket as No 3 as he stroked 75 not out off just 40 balls to help set up the Super Kings' 168/6.
It would have been much more were it not for the impressive spell from Eathan Bosch, who claimed 3/12.
The Super Kings were not going to be denied though on a night that the SA20 arrived in all its glory in Johannesburg.
