Pretoria Capitals' Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz was left a bit disappointed at the end of his team's first match in SA20 Season 3 against Durban's Super Giants.

Chasing a massive target of 210 in 20 overs at the Kingsmead in Durban, Gurbaz (89) and Will Jacks (64) gave the Capitals a brilliant start, raising a partnership of 154 runs for the opening wicket. But the Capitals failed to capitalise on that start and lost the match by just 2 runs.
Happy with my performance but really disappointed with the result. We should have won but unfortunately, we lost. Hopefully, we come back stronger. My partnership with Jacks was really good, and I hope we continue in this way and win matches with our team. Wins are always tastier.
The Super Giants had posted 209/4 due to healthy contributions from New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (60 not out) and Wiaan Mulder (45 not out off 19 balls) before the Capitals made most of the running by reducing the target to 21 off 19 balls with six wickets remaining in the dugout.
But that’s when the Afghanistan pair of Noor Ahmad (2/34) and Naveen-ul-Haq (1/35) put the squeeze on to reduce the target to 14 required off the final six deliveries.
Noor already picked up the big wickets of Capitals Gurbaz and Jacks before his captain Keshav Maharaj removed the dangerous Liam Livingstone in the penultimate over.
Noor always tries to get me out and I try to hit him for sixes as well. He is one of the best bowlers. We should respect good bowlers, he got me out today but hopefully next time, I smash him for sixes.
This left another Afghan, Naveen-ul-Haq with 14 runs to defend in the final over with Capitals teenager Steve Stolk on strike. Stolk managed to rotate leaving Kyle Verreynne to strike a boundary that brought the equation down to four required off the final delivery.
But Naveen-ul-Haq had ice running through his veins to restrict Stolk to a leg-bye which gave the Super Giants a winning start at home.
The Capitals’ run-chase seemed on course through an explosive 154-run opening partnership between Gurbaz and Will Jacks.
Gurbaz, making his SA20 debut, played with absolutely no fear and peppered all parts of the Kingsmead terraces.
The right-hander was equally destructive against pace and spin by initially attacking England seamer Chris Woakes before employing the sweep shot with devastating effect against Super Giants captain Keshav Maharaj. It led to Gurbaz requiring just 22 balls (2x4,5x6) for his maiden SA20 half-century. Jacks, meanwhile, needed six balls more for his fifty with the Englishman also striking five sixes.
Gurbaz eventually fell on his sword for 89 off 43 balls (3x4; 7x6) when he was caught on the edge of the boundary off the bowling of his compatriot Noor before Jacks followed for 64 (35 balls, 3x4, 5x6).
Earlier, Super Giants had also unleashed an exciting new opening pair in Matthew Breetzke and Bryce Parsons to kickstart the new season. Parsons, making his SA20 debut, repaid the faith by setting the Kingsmead alight with a boundary-filled 47 off 28 balls (5x4; 2x6) that formed part of a 67-run opening stand with Breetzke in just 6.3 overs.
NEWS
Show more newsBreetzke simply picked up from where he left off last season with 33 off 20 balls (5x4; 1x6). The Proteas opener struck some flamboyant boundaries through the leg side, especially the one where he lifted his back leg in Betway SA20 commentator Kevin Pietersen style.
The introduction of Senuran Muthusamy into the attack after the Powerplay, however, brought a halt to the runaway Super Giants train with the left-arm spinner tempting Breetzke with a looping delivery to drive straight to Rilee Rossouw. Muthusamy finished with 3-21 and restricted the Super Giant's progress.
They would have had further reward when Jimmy Neesham lured his former Black Caps skipper Williamson into driving aerially into the covers - only to see Gurbaz put down the chance on the boundary. It was the let-off that Williamson and Super Giants required, and they certainly made the Capitals pay.
Joined by Mulder at that point, the pair regained the lost momentum with some clean striking of the white ball.
Initially, it was all flowing off Mulder’s bat with the Proteas allrounder stroking two successive maximums over the cover boundary.
This allowed Williamson to belatedly find his rhythm, but once he did, it was all class from the Kiwi legend, which ultimately proved the difference.


