SA20 | Disciplined bowling assist Capitals to a must-needed triumph in a final over humdinger
Both teams suffered early collapses in their respective batting order but the Pretoria Capitals managed to snatch four crucial points after defending 125 runs in a final over thriller. Despite dragging the chase close, Liam Dawson failed to close the margin of difference in Centurion.
Aiden Markram’s decision to field first paid dividends after their new ball bowlers, Daniel Worrall, and Marco Jansen struck early with the new ball. Although Phil Salt tried to attack inside the powerplay, he fell prey to Jansen’s excellence. In no time, the Capitals were reduced to 52/5 at the end of the powerplay before Shane Dadswell and Jimmy Neesham glued 52 runs for the sixth wicket. A terrific catch from Simon Harmer in the 14th over helped the Eastern Cape break building partnership and it paved the way for yet another collapse, restricting the Capitals to 125/10 in 18.3 overs.
The Sunrisers side had a horrendous start to the chase courtesy of disciplined bowling from Eathan Bosch, Daryn Dupavilion and Adil Rashid. They could gather just 22 runs inside the powerplay for the loss of three wickets and soon Jordan Hermann followed suit, with the scorecard reading 32/4 after 8.2 overs, leading to a hydration break. The home side notched up just 48 runs for the loss of a couple of wickets between the two strategic timeout with the Orange Army languishing at 80/6 after 16 overs. With 46 runs required from the final four overs, Adil Rashid spell cob around the lower order and extracted a double wicket 17th over, followed by a scalp and 25 runs in the next two overs. The equation was curtailed to 11 needed off the ultimate over and Daryn Dupavillion conceded just three runs off the first three before Liam Dawson sliced one fuller delivery over deep cover for a six to bring it down to 4 needed off 2. A brilliant yorker was followed up by a slower one that bamboozled Dawson, leading Captails to a much-needed victory by three runs.
The Twitterverse closely followed this game and here’s how they reacted.
Rollercoaster ride
Low scoring encounters with rollercoaster ride is thrilled to watch 😍🔥 #SA20 #PCvSEC
— Rohit Meghwani🇮🇳 (@RohitMeghwani2) January 25, 2024
Feeling upset
Feeling an upset now from Centurion as @PretoriaCapsSA could get one over @SunrisersEC @MikeHaysman @ABdeVilliers17 & @7polly7 about to call it!!! #SA20 #GoFordy ☘️ pic.twitter.com/xUazkE0RFc
— Trevor Freeman (@trevorfreeman67) January 25, 2024
Its your fault
its your own fault for staying up to watch this terrible format
— mohammed zaid (@therealestmzaid) January 25, 2024
The reason
Adil Rashid bowling hit me balls when his team needs wickets, that's why franchises don't bid for him in IPL, he's a mid tier bowler & Parnell isn't a captain, you need a wicket and Pacers are getting help but he's not willing to bring back Bosch. #SA20
— Ykush_Tyagiᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@Ykush_Tyagi) January 25, 2024
Empty head
That guy who hit the ball out of the other guy's hand is an empty head. #SA20#SA20League #CricketTwitter
— Ami (@AmiJaneD) January 25, 2024
Logical challenge
There is logistically challenge since we aren't ipl or SA20 or bbl we don't have ready production kit crew ready at each venue simontaniously that's been the case previous year even now
— Shahzaib (@Shahzoo_khi) January 25, 2024
Is it?
I suppose there had to be a "worst match of the season" at some point. I think we've found it #sa20 #PCvsSEC
— AlexB (@alexblumberg) January 25, 2024
Horrible
What was that shot from Jansen ? Horrible #SA20
— Cricket Tamizhan (@CricketTamizhan) January 25, 2024
Need to be organised
Alternatively, if a draft-based recruitment mechanism be desired, the draft could be held much earlier - critically before the SA20 auction and before ILT20 teams get organized with their recruitment.
— Dan Weston (@SAAdvantage) January 25, 2024