30 Jan Capitals In Search Of A Commanding Victory With Playoff Spots Up For Grabs
DSG ready to entertain loyal fans in their last home game
Tuesday, 30 January 2024: Durban’s Super Giants and Pretoria Capitals meet at Kingsmead today, finding themselves at different ends of the Betway SA20 log. The latter’s hopes of joining DSG in the playoffs are still alive – but only just.
Following their victory over Paarl Royals on Sunday, which secured DSG’s playoffs place, their captain Keshav Maharaj had only praise for a number of his players.
“I am really proud of the boys. In the last game, it was about identifying plans to batters and we stayed true to that. Matthew Breetzke has been giving good start throughout the tournament. Some of the shots he’s playing reminds you of (Herschelle) Gibbs,” Maharaj said.
While Breetzke’s first 50 of the season set the platform, Noor Ahmad’s five-for sealed the deal for DSG.
“Absolutely special (Noor Ahmad). He’s always delivered whenever I’ve asked him and is a world-class performer which is why we got him here. He’s young in his career and has done wonderful things all over the world.
Maharaj was quick to remind the Durban faithful that they will not be coasting into the playoffs.
“It’s something we set our eyes on but we’re not going to take our foot off the gas – we still want to finish as high on the table as we can and making sure we stay true to our principles on and off the field.”
Meanwhile, Pretoria Capitals have not played a full match in five days and saw Joburg Super Kings re-overtake them in the battle for fourth place with their dramatic win over MI Cape Town on Monday night. The points now read JSK 13, Capitals 10 with one match less and MICT on 9 points.
Capitals will thus be desperate for a win before their back-to-back clashes against MICT. They will have to do so without talismanic allrounder Jimmy Neesham, who has been ruled out of the rest of the season with a hamstring injury while Ireland captain Paul Stirling has also pulled up, with a calf injury.
Their places in the Capitals squad have been taken up by Pretoria-born Knights batter Jacques Snyman and Colin Ackerman, the South Africa-born Dutch allrounder.
“When I got the phone call I was actually packed and ready to go back to the UK [where he plays for Leicestershire]. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be here with the Pretoria Capitals … I’m ready to go for the game [against Durban’s Super Giants].
Ackermann, who’s from Gqeberha and played seven seasons for the Warriors domestically most recently played for the Netherlands during the ICC World Cup in India.
“I’ve been following the League very closely over the last two years and it’s great to be part of it finally. It’s a high level of cricket and looks to be well supported.”
The 32-year-old will be joining up with some familiar faces in the Capitals camp.
“I’ve played a lot of cricket with Colin Ingram and Wayne Parnell at the Warriors. I’ve spent some great moments on the cricket field with those two guys so it’s great to be linking up with them again. It’s quite nostalgic actually because I played schoolboy cricket with Wayne so we have quite a few great memories playing with him at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and obviously we went on to play for the Warriors after that so it’s great to link up with him again.”
For his part, Snyman, spoke about joining Capitals as a “dream come true”.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the competition … definitely to learn from opening duo from England and to play with Rilee Rossouw again.”
This match will start at 17h30 (SAST).
FULL SQUADS FOR KINGSMEAD
Durban’s Super Giants: Keshav Maharaj (captain), Noor Ahmad, Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Mayers, Wiaan Mulder, Naveen-ul-Haq Murid, Bryce Parsons, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jon-Jon Smuts, Jason Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Prenelan Subrayen, Reece Topley.
Pretoria Capitals: Wayne Parnell (captain), Colin Ackermann, Matthew Boast, Corbin Bosch, Eathan Bosch, Shane Dadswell, Theunis de Bruyn, Daryn Dupavillon, Colin Ingram, Will Jacks, Senuran Muthusamy, Migael Pretorius, Adil Rashid, Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, Jacques Snyman, Tiaan van Vuuren, Kyle Verreynne, Hardus Viljoen.
MATCH OFFICIALS FOR KINGSMEAD
Match referee: Zama Ndamane
Standing umpires: Stephen Harris and Abdoellah Steenkamp
TV umpire: Siphelele Gasa
Reserve umpire: Dennis Smith
Notes
Rights free images from the Betway SA20 are available below.
Betway SA20 Season 2 | SPORTZPICS Photography
Media Contacts at stadiums
Durban’s Super Giants v Pretoria Capitals.xls
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