The second half of the double header in the SA20 competition sees the penultimate match in the regular season being played out as the Joburg Super Kings take on the current pacesetters Durban’s Super Giants.
A win here will ensure the Super Giants finish top of the table but they are already assured of a top two finish whereas this is do or die for the Joburg Super Kings. They need to better the result of the MI Cape Town earlier in the day to qualify or their season ends here.
Joburg Super Kings
This has been a season of struggle for the Joburg Super Kings despite the impressive signings that they made heading into the competition. Admittedly the rain hasn’t helped them at times but they have got one of their two wins in a rain affected match so they can’t complain too much that the weather has not been their friend. The simple fact is they haven’t played enough good cricket and are now firmly drinking in the last chance saloon.
The big problem for the Super Kings this season has been that their batting hasn’t fired at all. In four of those six full matches they have posted a score below 150 and in this part of the world that is leaving you massively vulnerable, especially when they play their home matches in the Highveld where the ball travels further. If they are to save their season then their top order now has to fire up and deliver the goods because their bowlers will be under untold pressure here.
Durban’s Super Giants
The Durban’s Super Giants have had a much better campaign on the flip side of that. They lead the way in the competition and a win here will sew up top spot, although given that the finals are on neutral territory and they are ensured of a top two finish this match doesn’t really carry the same weight that it might do in other franchise events where the matches are hosted by the team higher up in the table. That might have an impact on the team selection for Durban.
We have already seen one match in which Durban have chosen a team to reflect what their side will look like in the latter stages of the competition and now I would imagine we are at the stage where those who haven’t had much time in the middle will be shoved up the order to get some. Where they could benefit is from batting second here. Just one of their seven wins have come while chasing this season so to win chasing here would certainly give them peace of mind.
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Key Players
I keep on waiting for Moeen Ali to deliver the goods with the bat in this tournament but it hasn’t really happened. Now would be a good time as far as the Joburg Super Kings are concerned and when the chief spin threat will be turning it onto his pads, Moeen has everything he needs to go big here.
Quinton de Kock hasn’t really delivered too much in this competition. I don’t think batting at three necessarily suits him and it will be interesting to see if he is promoted to open the batting to get him firing on all cylinders here.
Betting
I’m always a little wary about backing teams who don’t need to win to do so, especially in what is essentially a dead rubber for the Durban’s Super Giants but the 4/5 price on them has got me reeled in because the Joburg Super Kings have failed to perform all season, especially with the bat and you would imagine they are going to need to score big to have any chance in this one given the power which the Super Giants come to the party with. Durban have really improved with the ball in recent times and so I think they get the job done against a Joburg side who look outmatched in all departments.
This is also a match where we might be able to take advantage of a couple of Durban batters to top score for their side as there is a fair chance that they will shove a couple of lower order batters up the order to get them time in the middle ahead of the playoffs. The two in question could well be Keemo Paul and Wiaan Mulder. Paul was promoted to five in the last game but was out first ball so he might be shoved up again, especially given he missed the middle part of the season when Marcus Stoinis was in town. Mulder has batted at seven in this competition but he has made 52 and 38* in the middle of the season. That was batting at seven and while he only has five runs in three matches since then that might be to our advantage here if he is shoved up to find some form. At 18/1 and 20/1 I’ll play both in the hope that one delivers the goods.
Tips
Back Durban’s Super Giants to beat Joburg Super Kings for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Betfred
Back W.Mulder Top Durban’s Super Giants Batter for a 1/10 stake at 19.00 with Betfair
Back K.Paul Top Durban’s Super Giants Batter for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 with William Hill
Back him here:
