Quinton de Kock’s valiant knock went in vain as Durban’s Super Giants pushed hard before suffering a five-wicket defeat against Paarl Royals in their seventh SA20 2025 fixture at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban on Thursday, January 23.
Opting to bat first, the Super Giants rode on wicketkeeper-batter de Kock’s fighting knock of 43 off 30 balls along with contributions from JJ Smuts (32) Matthew Breetzke (25) and Wiaan Mulder (24) to post a fighting total of 142/7 in their allotted overs.
Later, DSG bowlers bounced back with some early wickets before the Royals chased down the target in 17.3 overs.
QDK, Breetzke dazzle at Kingsmead
Openers Quinton de Kock and Matthew Breetzke got the Super Giants off to a great start. The swashbuckling duo played some scintillating shots as they added 62 runs for the opening wicket before Breetzke departed for 25 in the ninth over.
Super Giants lose momentum in middle overs
Following Breetzke’s dismissal, the Super Giants soon suffered another massive blow as in-form Quinton de Kock was dismissed for 43 off 30 balls. His impressive knock was laced with three fours and three sixes. The hosts then continued to lose momentum in the middle overs as star batter Kane Williamson and Heinrich Klaasen fell in quick succession.
Mulder, Smuts guide DSG to 142/7
Struggling at 81/4, JJ Smuts joined all-rounder Wiaan Mulder at the crease. Mulder and Smuts forged a brilliant fifty-run partnership to bring the Super Giants back into the game. The pair added 59 runs off just 45 balls for the fifth wicket before Smuts departed in the final over. Mulder was later dismissed after an unfortunate run-out as DSG posted 142/7 in their 20 overs.
DSG bounce back with early wickets
Defending 142, DSG pacer Chris Woakes provided an early breakthrough as he removed opener Joe Root for a duck in the opening over of the chase. Later in the fourth over, Junior Dala continued his impressive form as he dismissed Lhuan-dre Pretorius for 25.
Noor magic to clean up Hermann
After losing two early wickets, Rubin Hermann and Mitchell Van Buuren stitched a crucial partnership for the Royals. Hermann and Van Buuren added a 52-run stand for the third wicket before DSG’s star left-arm wrist-spinner bamboozled Hermann (44) in the eighth over of the game.
Another tough loss at home
With the score reading 71/3, captain David Miller walked into bat. While the DSG bowlers dug deep, Miller and Van Buuren played sensibly to add 59 runs for the fourth wicket. In the 17th over, Dala ended the partnership as he removed Van Buuren while Miller was run-out in the very next over. However, it was too little too late as the Royals chased down the target with five wickets in hand.
What next for the Super Giants?
DSG will lock horns with MI Cape Town at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Saturday, January 25.
Brief Scores: Durban’s Super Giants 142/7 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 43; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/23) lost to Paarl Royals 146/5 in 17.3 overs (Rubin Hermann 44, Junior Dala 2/38) by five wickets.
