The second part of the SA20 double header of action on Saturday comes from SuperSport Park where the bottom two collide in the Highveld derby as the Pretoria Capitals host the Joburg Super Kings in a key game for both sides.
Pretoria won their last game to move off the foot of the table but they are probably going to need to win three of their last four if they are going to extend their campaign while Joburg will need to do likewise so losing here will pile the pressure on the team who fails to come out on top.
Pretoria Capitals
The Pretoria Capitals were the dominant force in the first part of last season only to come a cropper in the final but things have been much different this time around. They have struggled largely this season with just two wins from their six matches, although one of those wins was against the team who have looked the best so far in the Durban’s Super Giants. The other was last time out and you wonder if that will click them into gear.
The big issue for the Capitals in comparison to last season is their openers and top order as a whole haven’t fired to anything like the same intensity and power that they did a year ago. In fairness to them the pitches at Centurion haven’t been quite as good this season but they would still have expected more bang for their buck. Their bowlers have done the best that they can, especially when they are without Anrich Nortje but they have lacked the runs to be competitive often enough.
Joburg Super Kings
When they went into the season there was much more expected from the Joburg Super Kings because they looked like they had reinforced significantly for a really promising campaign. Unfortunately for the Super Kings they just haven’t delivered on a regular basis and as such they go into this match bottom of the pile and in need of just not a win here but also some consistently good performances. It will be interesting to see if the derby nature of this game brings out their best.
The big issue for the Super Kings is that their overseas stars haven’t really delivered consistently and their opening batters, who when they went well last season were hitting runs for fun, just haven’t got going. As with Pretoria, some of that is down to slightly indifferent pitches but at the same time they haven’t always given themselves the best chance. Their bowling has left plenty to be desired as well so an all-round improvement is going to be needed.
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Key Players
If there is one player that the Pretoria Capitals would like to show top form between now and the end of the season it is Will Jacks. He is capable to taking any attack apart and at the same time he can bowl four overs of useful spin, especially against the Joburg left-handers.
Moeen Ali has been a bit of a disappointment for the Joburg Super Kings so far this season. You would have thought that The Wanderers would be a perfect home for him but he hasn’t really delivered. Now would be a good time to start.
Betting
While I am slightly concerned that these two batting units aren’t firing on all cylinders I just can’t avoid playing the 15.5 sixes line here. I am trusting that we are either on a fresh pitch which is good or there is a short boundary somewhere, which given the last game here was only on Thursday is perfectly possible. If we do get that then we know that this ground is a haven for sixes. Pretty much every one of those Betway catches happens here and there are six hitters right down both of the orders so I am going to put faith in the batters.
The fact that the two scores here on Thursday were only in the 120s and there were 10 sixes in that match also tells us that this line gets covered more often than not. In an ideal world there would be a batter or two who are in better form than they are but form is only temporary in a format like this. I admit I am taking a punt on the line rather than the form guide but in a match where both need to win I am happy to take the chance that someone comes good and we sail beyond 15.5 sixes.
Tips
Back Over 15.5 sixes for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with William Hill
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