Joburg Super Kings have qualified for the SA20 playoffs for the fourth season in a row, and once again, Leus du Plooy proved to be the man of the hour. In a must-win clash against Paarl Royals, JSK delivered under pressure to keep their perfect playoff record intact.
The men in yellow had started the season strongly, winning three of their first three games. But washed-out matches, injuries, and a fair share of bad luck soon pushed them into a corner. Heading into their final league match, qualification was out of their hands unless they secured a win.
That task was never going to be easy. Paarl Royals, despite suffering a heavy loss earlier in the tournament, had been one of the most impressive sides this season. To make matters worse, Joburg Super Kings had never won a match at Boland Park before this game.
Leus du Plooy Scores a Match-Defining Fifty
Everything changed on Monday, and the turning point came with Leus du Plooy’s bat. He walked in with JSK in trouble at 74/3 after 11 overs, on a slow surface where spinners had tied the inexperienced batters in knots. Boundaries were scarce and runs were hard-earned.
Du Plooy found support in youngster Matthew de Villiers, who struggled to find the fence but worked the singles and doubles tirelessly. The roles were clearly defined. Du Plooy took on the responsibility of attacking, while de Villiers held one end up and rotated the strike.
The intent was clear early. Du Plooy announced himself by smashing Sikandar Raza for a boundary off just his fifth ball. He followed it up with inventive strokeplay, including a reverse sweep off Ottneil Baartman, helping JSK collect consecutive 11-run overs.
The real shift came in the 19th over, when du Plooy unleashed his full range. Facing Waqar Salamkheil, he raced to a 24-ball fifty, smashing two sixes and a four as JSK plundered 23 runs in the over. That burst transformed the innings and lifted JSK to a competitive 166, a total that had looked unlikely for much of the innings.
JSK Spinners Too Much to Handle for Paarl Royals
In the second innings, Joburg Super Kings’ bowlers ensured there was no repeat of past heartbreak at Boland Park. The pitch continued to grip, and JSK’s spinners made full use of it.
Akeal Hosein set the tone with a tight opening spell, immediately applying pressure. Prenelan Subrayen struck in the third over, giving JSK an early breakthrough and tilting the chase in their favour.
The squeeze tightened through the middle overs. Imran Tahir, the seasoned campaigner, rolled back the years with two crucial wickets, while Nandre Burger cleaned up the lower order with three of his own. Paarl Royals never found momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals and struggling to keep up with the required rate.
Eventually, the Royals were bowled out for 122, handing JSK a convincing 44-run victory. The result not only sealed playoff qualification, but also broke Joburg Super Kings’ long-standing jinx at Boland Park.
The two sides will meet again in just two days’ time in an eliminator, with a place deeper in the tournament on the line. For now, JSK can breathe — their season stays alive, and their playoff streak remains unbroken.
