Donovan Ferreira and Richard Gleeson delivered under pressure as Joburg Super Kings edged past Durban Super Giants in a pulsating SA20 clash that ended in the first-ever Super Over finish in league history. The dramatic win lifted Joburg to the top of the points table after three consecutive victories.
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Ferreira played a decisive role in regulation time, running out Eathan Bosch off the final ball of the match to force a tie, before Gleeson produced a superb Super Over, conceding just five runs to restrict Durban to 5/1. With six needed for victory, Rilee Rossouw sealed the contest by smashing two boundaries off Noor Ahmad, completing a memorable win for Joburg.
Durban finished on 205/8 while chasing 206, needing 15 off the final over bowled by Wiaan Mulder. Bosch launched the second delivery for six, while Simon Harmer struck a boundary off the penultimate ball to leave just one run required. However, Harmer failed to connect with the final delivery, and Bosch was run out attempting a desperate single, thanks to Ferreira’s pinpoint direct hit.
Earlier in the chase, Evan Jones, Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram kept Durban in the hunt. Jones was explosive at the top, smashing 43 off just 17 balls, while Klaasen struck 29 from 19 deliveries and Markram contributed a composed 37 off 30 balls.
Akeal Hosein played a key role with the ball, returning figures of 4-0-31-2 to dismiss openers Devon Conway and Kane Williamson cheaply, preventing Durban from building early momentum.
In the first innings, Joburg Super Kings posted a formidable 205/4, built on strong top-order contributions and a blistering finish. Matthew de Villiers (38) and captain Faf du Plessis (47 off 30 balls) laid the foundation with an 89-run opening stand inside nine overs.
Former Maharashtra batter and now USA international Shubham Ranjane anchored the innings with an unbeaten 50 off 31 balls, before Ferreira unleashed a stunning cameo — 33 not out from just 10 deliveries, including four sixes to propel Joburg past the 200 mark.
Durban spinner Noor Ahmad was the standout bowler, delivering an exceptional spell of 4-0-12-3 despite the high-scoring contest.
(By PTI Inputs)
