It feels great to come back home after a long break. It feels better to return as table-toppers and resume our quest for the ultimate prize in front of our Pitori family!
“Really looking forward to seeing everyone. It seems like we have been away for a long time”
Captain Parnell’s words accurately sum up the mood in our camp as we return to Centurion for the final leg of SA20. Our first opponents in a packed weekend are MI Cape Town - a team battling for survival.
Recap of the Battle of the Blues:
If our last outing against MI Cape Town is anything to go by, we are in for an absolute treat. We became the first team to defend a total at Newlands by defeating the hosts by 52 runs and earning a bonus point.
Will Jacks stole the show once again with his impactful batting. He was ably assisted by Kusal Mendis at the start, followed by Theunis de Bruyn and Jimmy Neesham to set a competitive target.
Before Dewald Brevis could unleash his power-hitting potential, Anrich Nortje took him out with an unexpected slower delivery. Post this, the MI Cape Town batting could not find its footing, courtesy of incredible bowling performances by Wayne Parnell, Adil Rashid, and Nortje, thus sealing the win.
Players in Focus ahead of Round 2:
Anrich Nortje:
Fast, furious, and breathing fire. Anrich Nortje is all of this and more! Taking 13 wickets in 7 matches, Nortje is our leading wicket-taker and the pacer with the most wickets in SA20 as well. This leaves us super eXXcited to watch the contest between Nortje’s fiery pace and MI Cape Town’s powerful batting.
While we wait to watch Anas take Centurion by storm once again, here is the story behind his nasty ‘stache:
Phil Salt:
Yes, he’s back and ready to #RoarSaamMore! After missing out on a few games due to illness, Phil Salt returns to the Pitori camp. The Englishman would be aiming to continue his fine form to smash boundaries around the park! This will be especially beneficial for us in the absence of Will Jacks who had to leave early owing to national duties.
Joined by Kusal Mendis at the top, we will be keenly watching them take on the experienced Kagiso Rabada.
Eathan Bosch:
The young South African pacer has made a name for himself as our man who brings in the opening breakthroughs. With 9 wickets in 7 matches, Eathan has proven himself to be a dependable asset for our team.
Who do you think will be his first wicket this time around?
A Semi-Final Berth On Our Mind:
Both Pretoria Capitals and MI Cape Town will aim for a win going into this clash. Coming from a defeat against Durban's Super Giants, our opponents cannot afford to drop points if they want to keep their SA20 hopes alive.
On the other hand, we will be playing to become the first team to seal a semi-final berth. With 23 points from our seven matches, we require a minimum of four points from our remaining three matches to step closer to the coveted trophy.
Of course, there is no better place to become a part of SA20 history than Centurion - at home, in front of our fans.
Match Details: Feb 4, 5:30 PM SAST | Centurion, Pretoria
Watch LIVE: Supersport TV (Sub-Saharan Africa) & Sports 18/JioCinema (India)
