DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – Joburg Super Kings owed their opening win in the SA20 in large part to Romario Shepherd’s 19-ball cameo as they beat Jason Holder’s Durban Super Giants by 16 runs here yesterday.
Tottering on 27 for four in the sixth over at Kingsmead, Super Kings were revived by Donovan Ferreira’s unbeaten 82, the 24-year-old uncapped South African posting 72 for the fifth wicket with captain Faf du Plessis (39) and a further 87 in an exhilarating sixth wicket partnership with Shepherd who blasted an up tempo 40.
Their efforts propelled Super Kings to 190 for six off their 20 overs – a target Super Giants failed to properly negotiate despite a top score of 79 from left-hander Quinton de Kock and 39 from West Indies left-hander Kyle Mayers.
The pair provided a bright start for the hosts by putting on 98 for the first wicket but their dismissals paved the way for Super Kings to pull the game back, West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph spearheading the attack with two for 30.
Choosing to bat first, Super Kings were ripped apart early as off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen grabbed two early wickets to put Super Giants on top.
However, Ferrerira arrived at number six to pummel eight fours and five sixes in a 40-ball cameo, receiving support from du Plessis who counted three fours and in a 33-ball knock.
When du Plessis picked out Mayers in the deep off leg-spinner Akila Dananjaya at the end of the 14th over, Shepherd entered the fray, maintaining the momentum by lashing two four and four sixes before perishing to the penultimate ball of the innings.
In reply, De Kock punched five fours and five sixes off 52 deliveries while Mayers carved out a brace of fours and three sixes in a 29-ball knock, in a partnership which appeared destined to lay the foundation for a Super Giants win.
However, both fell in the space of 19 balls with 28 runs added and neither Holder (two not out) or West Indies teammate Keemo Paul (one not out) had any time to rescue the chase.
In Tuesday’s opening game, Barbados-born England fast bowler Jofra Archer snared three for 27 from his four overs to inspire MI Cape Town to an eight-wicket win over Paarl Royals who feature former West Indies left-arm seamer Ramon Simmonds.
