Leus du Plooy and Aaron Phangiso starred in the Joburg Super Kings’ thrilling six-run win against the Pretoria Capitals at the Wanderers on Tuesday.
Du Plooy scored 75* off 40 balls as the hosts posted 168-6, before spinner Phangiso took 4-32 to help restrict the visitors to 162.
It was the first time the SA20 caravan had rolled into Johannesburg and the locals came out in their thousands to support their new team. Whistles were handed out to the yellow-clad crowd before the game which led to the Bullring buzzing throughout.
HIGHLIGHTS: Joburg Super Kings vs Pretoria Capitals
The match was only decided when Joburg Super Kings’ West Indies international Romario Shepherd successfully defended 10 runs off the final over, during which he dismissed both Adil Rashid and last man Anrich Nortje.
Shepherd may have completed the job for the Super Kings, but he received solid support from fellow West Indian Alzarri Joseph (2-34) and Phangiso.
The left-arm spinner was in superb form as he stemmed the Capitals’ momentum during the middle overs.
The Super Kings came into this match on the back of two heavy defeats in the Western Cape, and were desperate to get their campaign back on track.
The lack of runs at the top was certainly remedied on Tuesday evening with new opening partnership Reeza Hendricks (45) and captain Faf du Plessis (27) setting the platform early on.
This allowed Du Plooy to play freely when he came to the wicket at No 3 as he stroked 75* off just 40 balls to help set up the Super Kings’ 168-6.
It would have been much more were it not for an impressive spell from Eathan Bosch, who claimed 3-12.
The Super Kings were not going to be denied, though, on a night that the SA20 arrived in all its glory in Johannesburg.
