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Capitals in search of a commanding victory with playoff spots up for grabs

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Tuesday, 30 January 2024: Durban’s Super Giants and Pretoria Capitals meet at Kingsmead today, finding themselves at different ends of the Betway SA20 log. The latter’s hopes of joining DSG in the playoffs are still alive – but only just.

Following their victory over Paarl Royals on Sunday, which secured DSG’s playoffs plot, their captain Keshav Maharaj had only praise for a number of his players.

“I am really proud of the boys. In the last game, it was about identifying plans to batters and we stayed proper to that. Matthew Breetzke has been giving apt start throughout the tournament. Some of the shots he’s playing reminds you of (Herschelle) Gibbs,” Maharaj said.

While Breetzke’s first 50 of the season set the platform, Noor Ahmad’s five-for sealed the deal for DSG.

“Absolutely special (Noor Ahmad). He’s always delivered whenever I’ve asked him and is a world-class performer which is why we got him here. He’s young in his career and has done wonderful things every over the world.

Maharaj was quick to remind the Durban faithful that they will not be coasting into the playoffs.

“It’s something we set our eyes on but we’re not going to seize our foot off the gas – we still want to finish as high on the table as we can and making sure we stay right to our principles on and off the field.”

Meanwhile, Pretoria Capitals gain not played a full match in five days and saw Joburg Super Kings re-overtake them in the battle for fourth plot with their dramatic win over MI Cape Town on Monday night. The points now read JSK  13, Capitals 10 with one match less and MICT on 9 points.

Capitals will thus be desperate for a win before their back-to-back clashes against MICT. They will maintain to execute so without talismanic allrounder Jimmy Neesham, who has been ruled out of the rest of the season with a hamstring injury while Ireland captain Paul Stirling has also pulled up, with a calf injury.

Their places in the Capitals squad acquire been taken up by Pretoria-born Knights batter Jacques Snyman and Colin Ackerman, the South Africa-born Dutch allrounder.

“When I got the phone call I was actually packed and ready to recede back to the UK [where he plays for Leicestershire]. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be here with the Pretoria Capitals … I’m ready to depart for the game [against Durban’s Super Giants].

Ackermann, who’s from Gqeberha and played seven seasons for the Warriors domestically most recently played for the Netherlands during the ICC World Cup in India.

“I’ve been following the League very closely over the last two years and it’s noteworthy to be portion of it finally. It’s a high level of cricket and looks to be well supported.”

The 32-year-old will be joining up with some familiar faces in the Capitals camp.

“I’ve played a lot of cricket with Colin Ingram and Wayne Parnell at the Warriors. I’ve spent some distinguished moments on the cricket field with those two guys so it’s worthy to be linking up with them again. It’s quite nostalgic actually because I played schoolboy cricket with Wayne so we gain quite a few noteworthy memories playing with him at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and obviously we went on to play for the Warriors after that so it’s worthy to link up with him again.”

For his fraction, Snyman, spoke about joining Capitals as a “dream approach true”.

“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the competition … definitely to learn from opening duo from England and to play with Rilee Rossouw again.”

This match will start at 17h30 (SAST).

FULL SQUADS FOR KINGSMEAD

Durban’s Super Giants: Keshav Maharaj (captain), Noor Ahmad, Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Mayers, Wiaan Mulder, Naveen-ul-Haq Murid, Bryce Parsons, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jon-Jon Smuts, Jason Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Prenelan Subrayen, Reece Topley.

Pretoria Capitals: Wayne Parnell (captain), Colin Ackermann, Matthew Boast, Corbin Bosch, Eathan Bosch, Shane Dadswell, Theunis de Bruyn, Daryn Dupavillon, Colin Ingram, Will Jacks, Senuran Muthusamy, Migael Pretorius, Adil Rashid, Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, Jacques Snyman, Tiaan van Vuuren, Kyle Verreynne, Hardus Viljoen.

MATCH OFFICIALS FOR KINGSMEAD

Match referee: Zama Ndamane

Standing umpires: Stephen Harris and Abdoellah Steenkamp

TV umpire: Siphelele Gasa

Reserve umpire: Dennis Smith

Source: cricket.co.za

Norman Gordon: Nicknamed Mobil for his generous use of Vaseline to put his unruly hair in place, South African cricketer Norman Gordon lived beyond 100 and was the oldest living Test cricketer before his death. His final Test match, known as the Timeless Test, continued for 10 days and ended in a draw.

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