Weather Disrupts DSG vs SEC Match in SA20 League
Match Abandoned Due to Rain
The highly anticipated match between Durban's Super Giants (DSG) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) at Kingsmead on Friday was called off without a toss due to adverse weather conditions.
As reported by SA20, a large crowd gathered at Kingsmead, eager for an exciting cricket match. However, persistent rain throughout the day forced the umpires to abandon the game at 20:00 local time.
With both teams receiving two points, Sunrisers Eastern Cape solidified their lead at the top of the table with 17 points from six matches, while Durban's Super Giants moved closer to a playoff spot with 11 points from seven matches. However, Pretoria Capitals still have a match in hand over DSG.
Aiden Markram's team will lament the inconsistent nature of their 2025-26 season, having experienced three no-results in their seven matches, alongside three losses that have put them at a disadvantage for the latter part of the group stage. In contrast, Sunrisers, who enjoy a nine-point lead over DSG, require just one more victory from their remaining four group matches to secure a playoff position.
Both teams are hopeful for better weather conditions on Sunday when they are scheduled to face off again at St George's Park, with the match starting at 15:30 SAST.
This match marked the second consecutive SA20 game to be abandoned due to weather issues.
The previous day's match between Joburg Super Kings and Paarl Royals at the Wanderers was also called off because of lightning.
Both teams were awarded two points, elevating Super Kings to 17 points, while Royals remained in third place with 15 points.
In that match, Royals captain David Miller won the toss under clear skies and opted to bowl. His counterpart from Super Kings expressed that he would have chosen to bat first as well, aiming to capitalize on the conditions.
Faf du Plessis and his new opening partner, James Vince, started strong, building on their previous performance with a rapid 32-run partnership against MI Cape Town, followed by a more substantial 73 runs in just 7.3 overs.
Despite not hitting the ball perfectly, Du Plessis managed to score 39 runs off 24 balls, showcasing his skills against Royals' teenage bowler Nqobani Mokoena on his debut.
Du Plessis hit two boundaries off Mokoena's first over and accelerated further in the second over with three boundaries and a six.
Vince also contributed significantly, hitting a six and a four against left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin in the third over, helping Super Kings reach 64 runs without losing a wicket by the end of the Powerplay.
Faf du Plessis, James Vince, Sikandar Raza, and Matthew de Villiers all made notable contributions at the Wanderers before the weather disrupted play.
However, Royals turned to their key bowler Sikandar Raza in the seventh over, and he made an immediate impact by clean bowling Du Plessis with a beautifully delivered off-spinner that turned sharply.
Despite this wicket, JSK maintained their momentum, with Matthew de Villiers and Vince adding another 56 runs for the second wicket. De Villiers outperformed his senior partner, scoring a quick 30 runs off 22 balls after Vince reached his first SA20 fifty off 33 balls.
At this point, JSK aimed for a total around 200 runs, but Raza struck again, dismissing De Villiers, who was caught at long-off, marking Raza's ninth wicket in just three matches.
The JSK innings faltered after this, especially following quick dismissals of Wiaan Mulder, Vince, and Shubham Ranjane, compounded by a floodlight failure that further disrupted their rhythm, with Donovan Ferreira falling soon after play resumed.
The Royals had managed to claw their way back into the match and would have felt confident chasing JSK's eventual score of 187/6, but ultimately had to settle for a draw when lightning interrupted play.