Twitter Reactions: Faf du Plessis and Leus de Plooy's stellar performance propels Joburg Super Kings to SA20 playoffs
Joburg defeated Durban by seven wickets.
It was a do-or-die game for Joburg Super Kings in the ongoing SA20 league. Pretoria Capitals were ahead of them on the points table and only a win could send them to the playoffs. However, it was a hard challenge as they were slated to face the league leaders Durban Super Giants in their final league game of the season.
Joburg started well with the ball as Lizaad Williams picked up two crucial wickets with the new ball. However, JJ Smuts, Wiaan Mulder and later Heinrich Klaasen created a lot of problems for the hosts. Smuts made 55 runs off just 34 deliveries while Mulder hit 59 runs off 40 balls. After they walked back to the pavilion, Klassen stole the show and played a blistering knock of 40 runs off just 16 deliveries.
Courtesy of their incredible batting, the visitors posted 203 runs on the board in the first innings. Joburg bowlers looked clueless in the second half of the innings but the batters were confident of getting the job done.
When it came to the chase, Joburg skipper Faf du Plessis and his opening partner Leus de Plooy wreaked havoc, stitching a partnership of 102 runs. Faf smashed 57 runs off just 29 deliveries while Plooy made 57 runs off 47 deliveries. After Faf got out, Wayne Madsen kept up with the momentum as he finished on 44* runs off 29 deliveries. Moeen Ali later accelerated and made 26 runs off 12 deliveries as Joburg won the match by seven wickets.
With the win, the Super Kings finished fourth on the points table. Pretoria Capitals with 14 points from 10 matches finished fifth while MI Cape Town finished at the bottom of the table for the second year in a row.
Meanwhile, Joburg will now face Paarl Royals in the Eliminator on February 7 in Johannesburg while Durban Super Giants will challenge defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 1.
Here's how Twitter reacted:
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