NEW DELHI: Leus du Plooy’s quickfire fifty and a three-wicket haul from Prenelan Subrayen powered Joburg Super Kings into the SA20 playoffs with a convincing 44 run win over Paarl Royals.

Du Plooy gave the innings the push it needed with a 27 ball 54 that had five boundaries and three sixes and lifted the Super Kings to a competitive 166 for five.

In reply, the Royals collapsed under pressure and despite a 25 ball 32 with four fours from Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dan Lawrence’s 45 off 29 balls with one four and three sixes, they were bundled out for just 122 in 18.1 overs.

In an impressive bowling effort for the Super Kings, South African spinner Subrayen finished with match winning figures of 3.1 0 14 3 while Nandre Burger with 2 for 29 and Imran Tahir with 2 for 17 also played their part.

Akeal Hosein and Wiaan Mulder picked up one wicket each.

The Super Kings found it hard to build momentum for most of the innings as opener Neil Timmers with 39 off 37 balls, Michael Pepper with 27 off 23 balls and Matthew de Villiers with 27 off 23 balls failed to dominate the attack.

It was Du Plooy’s late charge after coming in as stand in skipper for the injured Faf du Plessis that changed the game, as he struck a crucial half century towards the end and the Super Kings added 32 runs in the final two overs.

The Royals never really got going in the chase and the absence of regular captain David Miller because of injury only made things tougher.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape finished on top of the points table after the group stage with 28 points and will face second placed Pretoria Capitals with 24 points in the first qualifier on Wednesday.

The Royals, who ended third with 24 points, will meet the Super Kings again in the crucial Eliminator at Centurion on Thursday.

(With PTI Inputs)