Duan Jansen could not have picked a better stage for his arrival in Yellow. Drafted in as a replacement for the injured Nandre Burger, the left-arm seamer delivered a spell that shaped the contest from start to finish, picking up a four-wicket haul to power Joburg Super Kings to a statement win over Pretoria Capitals in their opening match of the SA20 season.
The victory carried added weight. This was the first time in four seasons that Joburg managed to breach their Highveld rivals at SuperSport Park, and they did it by 22 runs in what turned out to be a finely balanced T20 contest. On a tricky Centurion surface offering uneven bounce and pace, bowlers had the final say, and none more so than Jansen, who walked away with the Man of the Match award on debut.
Early troubles for JSK in batting
Having won the toss, Pretoria Capitals asked Joburg to bat first, confident their bowlers could exploit the conditions. The pitch was two-paced, with what many described as tennis-ball bounce, and the new opening pair of Faf du Plessis and Matthew de Villiers found run-scoring far from straightforward.
De Villiers showed glimpses of promise in a 13-run knock off 10 balls, but his debut ended in frustration after an unfortunate edge off Tymal Mills. Du Plessis followed soon after, and suddenly JSK were 2 for 16 inside the first four overs, staring at the prospect of a sub-par total.
That was when experience took over. Rilee Rossouw and Wiaan Mulder absorbed the pressure, read the conditions, and rebuilt with intent. They did more than just steady the innings. They ensured the scoreboard kept ticking, even if boundaries were hard-earned.
From a difficult start, Joburg reached 94 by the time the third wicket fell in the 13th over. Rossouw was the aggressor, striking 48 from 33 balls with five fours and three sixes, while Mulder played the ideal foil with a composed 43 off 48 deliveries. Neither reached three figures, but together they laid the foundation JSK desperately needed.
The finishing touches came from Akeal Hosein, whose late cameo of 22 off just 10 balls injected momentum at the death. His contribution pushed Joburg to a competitive 168 for 8, a total that looked defendable but by no means comfortable on a ground known for big chases.
Duan Jansen shines with ball in hand
If the batting effort was about patience and partnership, the bowling was about control and timing, led superbly by Duan Jansen. Filling in for Nandre Burger, Jansen opened the bowling alongside Mulder and immediately set the tone. There were no freebies up front, no easy releases.
Mulder conceded just seven runs in his opening over, even if a tough chance went down. Jansen, though, made his presence felt when it mattered most. With Pretoria cruising at 74 without significant damage after 10 overs, he returned in the 11th and struck straight away, removing the experienced Ruston Chase and halting the momentum.
Two overs later, Jansen delivered the decisive double blow. Bryce Parsons, the one Capitals batter who appeared comfortable against the variable bounce, fell first. In the same over, Connor Esterhuizen’s dismissal reflected a side beginning to feel the squeeze, shots forced by scoreboard pressure rather than opportunity.
The fourth wicket arrived in the 17th over when Jansen dismissed Daniel Smith with a clever change of pace, ensuring there would be no late resurgence. His final figures of 4 for 23 from four overs, at an economy of 5.75, marked a career-best performance and underlined his value as a like-for-like replacement in JSK’s bowling unit.
Support came from another young South African quick, Janco Smit, who, despite being slightly expensive, claimed the prized wicket of Dewald Brevis. That breakthrough triggered the collapse that followed and effectively sealed the game in Joburg’s favour.
With this win, Joburg Super Kings briefly moved to the top of the table and now sit second with four points and a healthy net run rate. Considering the side featured nine new players, finding the right result so early is a significant boost. More than the points, this was about belief, balance, and a debutant bowler seizing his moment. For Duan Jansen and JSK, it was a start that sets the tone for what could follow.
