Last year’s runners-up, the Super Giants, batted first and scored 209/4 in their allotted 20 overs.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson led the charge with the bat for the hosts, scoring an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls, while former SA Under-19 captain Bryce Parsons contributed 47. Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder chipped in with a very handy knock of 45 not out off 19 balls, and Matthew Breetzke added 33 off 20. The Super Giants posted what seemed to be a defendable score.

Wiaan Mulder and Kane Williamson. Photo: SA20

The only Capitals bowler to stand out was former North West Dragons captain and Proteas all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy, who impressed with 3/21 in his allotted four overs. England all-rounder Liam Livingstone chipped in with 1/40 in his three overs.

In reply, Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and England international Will Jacks put on a massive 154-run partnership for the first wicket for the Capitals. Gurbaz smashed seven sixes and three fours before he was dismissed for 89 off 43 balls in the 13th over. Capitals captain Rilee Rossouw managed just one run before being bowled by England’s Chris Woakes.

The dismissal of Jacks for 64 in the 15th over swung the match back in favour of the hosts. Ultimately, the Capitals fell just short in the thrilling game.

Woakes was the pick of the Super Giants’ bowlers, taking 2/42 in his four overs, while captain Keshav Maharaj and Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq each claimed one wicket.

Following the match, Mulder said it was a close call, but pulling off the win says a lot about the team’s character, and they were happy to take the points.

“I wouldn't say we had all the belief in the world, but I think, to put it simply, what Keshav pretty much said to us right through the game is that it’s a powerplay wicket to bat on,” said Mulder.

“Generally, in the first six overs, especially against a team like this that’s incredibly aggressive, they can get off to a flyer like they did, even your best balls can go. So, when it gets a bit slower, the ball gets a bit softer, and it generally spins a bit. With someone like Noor, Nav, and Keshav, who control their pace so well and don’t really miss, I think we’re always in the game.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Photo: SA20

“To win with 42 runs needed off 42 balls – I don’t think we ever want to be in that position again – but I think that just shows the character of a lot of these players in the DSG team. With a leader like Keshav, who encourages you to never give up, special things can happen. Tonight, in my opinion, was a really special win.”

The first double-header of Season Three in the SA20 will be played on Saturday (11/1) at 13:00, the Paarl Royals will host the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Boland Park in Paarl, while at 17:30, the Joburg Super Kings will entertain MI Cape Town at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg