On December 27, 2025, the Joburg Super Kings secured a historic 22-run win against the Pretoria Capitals in a thrilling matchup at SuperSport Park. This second fixture of SA20 Season 4 saw JSK overcome early setbacks through a resilient middle-order fightback and a standout, career-best bowling display by Duan Jansen. The result was particularly significant as it marked the Super Kings’ inaugural victory at the Centurion ground since the league’s inception.
Super Kings Weather Early Storm to Post Competitive Total
After winning the toss, the Pretoria Capitals elected to field, hoping to exploit the early spice in the Centurion wicket. Their decision seemed vindicated almost immediately. The Capitals’ pace duo, Tymal Mills and Codi Yusuf, dismantled the Super Kings’ top order within the first four overs. Captain Faf du Plessis was dismissed for just 2, caught by Daniel Smith off Yusuf, while Matthew De Villiers fell for 13 shortly after.
Reduced to a precarious 16/2, the Super Kings desperately needed a partnership. Rilee Rossouw and Wiaan Mulder provided exactly that, stitching together a vital 78-run stand off 54 balls. Rossouw played a calculated knock of 48 from 33 deliveries, featuring five boundaries and three maximums. Mulder supported him with a brisk 43 off 28 balls, striking three sixes of his own. Although both departed in quick succession—Rossouw falling to Mills and Mulder to Bryce Parsons—their efforts laid the foundation for a late-innings surge.
The finishing touches were provided by Akeal Hosein, who played a blistering cameo of 22* from just 10 balls (including two sixes), and Dian Forrester, who added 10*. Their late fireworks propelled the Super Kings to a total of 168/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Tymal Mills was the standout bowler for the Capitals, finishing with impressive figures of 2/17.
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Capitals’ Strong Start Derailed by Middle-Order Collapse
The Pretoria Capitals’ chase began with significant promise. Openers Will Smeed and Bryce Parsons looked in total command, navigating the powerplay with ease and reaching 71/0 by the ninth over. Parsons was the primary aggressor, smashing 41 off 30 balls, while Smeed contributed a solid 34. At that stage, the Capitals appeared to be cruising toward a comfortable victory.
However, the introduction of Akeal Hosein provided the breakthrough JSK needed, as he clean-bowled Smeed to break the opening stand. This sparked a catastrophic collapse for the home side. The Capitals lost five wickets for a mere 18 runs, sliding from a comfortable 71/0 to a disastrous 89/5. Duan Jansen was the architect of this destruction, utilizing the pace and bounce of the track to remove Shai Hope, Connor Esterhuizen, and the well-set Bryce Parsons in a devastating spell.
Jansen and Gleeson Stifle the Tail
Despite a brief resistance from Roston Chase (15) and wicketkeeper Daniel Smith (9), the Capitals never regained their momentum. Wiaan Mulder returned to the attack to clean up Chase, and Jansen continued his dominance by dismissing Smith to claim his fourth wicket.
With the required run rate climbing steeply, the Capitals’ lower order was left with too much to do. Richard Gleeson polished off the tail, removing Keshav Maharaj and Tymal Mills, as Pretoria finished their innings at 146/9. Duan Jansen was the undisputed star of the bowling unit, finishing with career-best figures of 4/23 in four overs.
Match Summary and Player Reflections
Joburg Super Kings’ 22-run win sends a strong message early in the season, proving their resilience even when not at full strength. For the Pretoria Capitals, the match will be remembered as a missed opportunity after a dominant opening partnership.
Duan Jansen was named Player of the Match for his game-changing four-wicket haul. Reflecting on the win, Jansen expressed his satisfaction in making a statement after missing the previous season, emphasizing the importance of contributing to the team’s historic first win at SuperSport Park. Capitals’ captain Keshav Maharaj acknowledged that while his team bowled well in patches, they conceded roughly 15 runs too many and failed to maintain composure during the middle-order collapse.
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