Rassie van der Dussen (96) and Daniel Christian (52) helped the Jozi Stars set an unassailable 239-3 before Nono Pongolo’s 6-20 sealed a 101-run victory against the Tshwane Spartans.
The Jukskei derby had a tasty twist to it. The Tshwane Spartans needed a win and for the Paarl Rocks to lose on Wednesday to stand a chance of qualifying, while a win for the Jozi Stars would seal a home qualifier for the hosts.
It was total carnage at the bullring. A total of 16 sixes and 13 fours were smashed during the Stars’ innings. The bulk of the punishment came from a record MSL fourth-wicket partnership from Van der Dussen and Christian, who smashed 118 runs in seven overs.
The tone was set, however, by a classy knock from Ryan Rickleton. The 22-year-old, who came in to replace Chris Gayle, hit 45 off 30 balls.
Useful cameos were also dished out by Reeza Hendricks (20) and Kagiso Rabada (21 off 11 balls), but it was the middle-order pair who lit up the Wanderers.
The destruction began after the 15th over as the pair smashed a total of 12 sixes during their partnership to set the highest total of the tournament.
Van der Dussen contributed six sixes and six fours that included a 110-metre maximum as he slammed a 44-ball 96. His partner took the fight to the Spartans equally, hitting the fastest half-century off 18 balls for his 52 off 19 deliveries (six sixes), as the hosts flew to 239-3 after being 121-3 after 12.5 overs.
The Spartans needed a remarkable effort to reach their 240-run target, but they stumbled to 25-3 after 4.2 overs. That included a duck from their captain, AB de Villiers.
Eoin Morgan (27) managed to drag his side to 72, but he was removed by Nono Pongolo with the first delivery of the ninth over, followed by Corbin Bosch two balls later.
Gihahn Cloete (50 off 40 balls) took the fight to the hosts for his fourth half-century of the campaign, but it was a little too late as the Stars were skittled for 138, losing by 101 runs.
Pongolo (6-20) was the Stars’ best bowler as he set his best T20 figures, the best figures of the tournament, the best T20 figures at the Wanderers stadium and the second-best figures in South African T20 history.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
