Who will come out on top in expected run-fest?

THE Faf du Plessis-led Joburg Super Kings will resume their Betway SA20 campaign when they host the Paarl Royals at the Wanderers today.

The home side will be without veteran spinner Aaron Phangiso, who is suspended from bowling in the SA20 after a lab-test confirmed a non-compliant action. Western Province spinner Kyle Simmonds has replaced him for the rest of the tournament.

The last time out, Du Plessis set the Bullring alight with a sizzling ton, the first of the SA20. Most importantly, Du Plessis led his troops to an all-important win after the Joburg-based side struggled in the early stages of the competition, losing three of their first five games.

Boosted by the addition of Australian international Matthew Wade, who has also been in good touch with the bat in T20 cricket, the home side will fancy their chances against David Miller’s Paarl Royals.

Jason Roy’s poor run of form in the first half of the competition weighed heavily on the Royals in some games, but the men from Paarl managed to fight their way to four wins in their first eight games. Roy will join his Royals teammates with a new-found confidence following a century for England in the recently concluded One-Day International series against the Proteas.

With the likes of Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin and Tabraiz Shamsi all firing, it will be a steep mountain to climb for the home team. The Royals have played well away from home so far, with wins over the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Durban’s Super Giants in Gqeberha and Durban, respectively.

With the match being played in the Highveld, at the traditionally high-scoring Wanderers Stadium, boundary hitting shouldn’t be a problem. Equally, if the pace and bounce the Bullring is known for is on offer today, the fast bowlers will be licking their lips.

Du Plessis and Reeza Hendricks at the top of the order for the home side will have to negotiate the slow left-arm spin of Fortuin, who’s been outstanding in the PowerPlay throughout the competition.

At the moment, the Paarl Royals have the upper hand in the contest after handing the Super Kings a hiding in Paarl. In that match, the Royals bowled the Super Kings out for 81 runs and chased it down with nine overs to spare.