Marques Ackerman of top scored for the Pretoria Capitals, who beat neighbours Joburg Super Kings by six wickets on Tuesday night. | Sportzpics
Joburg Super Kings: 99/9
Jonny Bairstow 30; Migael Pretorius 3/22
Pretoria Capitals: 100/4
Marques Ackerman 39; Lutho Sipamla 3/26
Pretoria Capitals win by six wickets
Pretoria Capitals brushed the Joburg Super Kings aside at SuperSport Park on Tuesday night, thrashing the Super Kings by six wickets, keeping their play-off ambitions alive in the process.
Going into the encounter with only one victory in seven matches, the Capitals knew that one more loss would put an early end to their campaign, joining Durban's Super Giants, whose playoff ambitions were shut down on Monday night at Boland Park.
However, they found a seemingly out-of-touch Super Kings side in Centurion.
Having opted to bowl first, the hosts restricted the Super Kings to 99/9, with Migael Pretorius (3/22), Gideon Peters (2/15) and Senuran Muthusamy (2/15) taking the bulk of the wickets.
Right from the moment Devon Conway was forced to retire hurt in the third over after being struck on the body at the non-striker's end, the Super Kings simply could not find rhythm and establish flow into their batting innings.
Faf du Plessis was the first to head back to the dugout. Attempting a scoop over the short-fine leg fielder, Du Plessis had no timing whatsoever on the shot, scooping the ball straight to the fielder to hand the hosts their first scalp.
Wihan Lubbe was the next man out. After facing 10 balls for only three runs, the pressure had built on the left-handed batter and an attempted slog off Muthusamy's slow-left-arm orthodox found Eathan Bosch at long-on.
With 40 runs on the board for the loss of two wickets inside the first eight overs, the Super Kings just never recovered despite Jonny Bairstow's 32-ball 30, as the Super Kings went on to lose seven more wickets for an additional 59 runs.
Peters, in his SA20 debut, took the big wickets of Conway (9) and Moeen Ali (0), as the Capitals gave themselves a small target to chase in front of their home fans.
With the bat, Marques Ackerman bossed the run chase with a 22-ball 39, a knock that saw the left-handed batter smash five fours and a six, as the Capitals reached the target with 48 balls to spare.
Despite the loss, Super Kings fast bowler Lutho Sipamla (3/26) made his presence felt with the wickets of Will Jacks (15), Kyle Verreyne (17) and Ackerman.
With the victory, the Capitals have forced the Joburg Super Kings, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, and MI Cape Town to work a little harder for spots in next week's play-offs.
Had the Capitals lost, the three teams would have been through to the play-offs alongside the Paarl Royals, who have secured a spot already.