Royals’ depth proves decisive as Super Kings exit SA20

LHUAN-DRE Pretorius’ half-century helped set up a commanding performance as Joburg Super Kings were knocked out of the Betway SA20 at Centurion on Thursday evening.

The match was shaped early by a brisk opening stand that gave the Royals momentum and allowed their middle order to build towards a challenging total.

Kyle Verreynne set the early tempo, striking 30 off 15 balls in a 39-run opening partnership before being bowled by Nandre Burger. Pretorius, who was dropped off Dan Worrall before scoring, settled in alongside him and gradually increased the scoring rate as the innings progressed.

After the opening breakthrough, Pretorius found his rhythm, hitting five sixes and two boundaries in a 34-ball 51 before being run out by Matthew de Villiers. While he fell just as he appeared to be accelerating, the platform had already been laid.

Royals pile on the pressure

The scoring rate did not dip. Stand-in captain Dan Lawrence added 36 off 23 balls, Sikandar Raza struck 35 from 19, and Asa Tribe, filling in for the injured David Miller, finished unbeaten on 30 off 16 deliveries. Their contributions pushed the Boland Park-based side to a formidable 210/5.

Early wickets derail the chase

Joburg Super Kings never recovered in reply. Missing Faf du Plessis, Rilee Roussow and Donovan Ferreira through injury, their young batting line-up struggled under play-off pressure.

Hardus Viljoen led the charge with the ball, taking 2/8 from his first two overs, with Bjorn Fortuin and Ottneil Baartman also among the wickets as Super Kings slumped to 40/4.

A 58-run partnership between James Vince (47 off 29) and Wiaan Mulder (41) offered brief resistance, but the deficit proved too great.

The Royals will now meet Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 2 at the Wanderers on Friday, with a place in Sunday’s final at Newlands at stake.