10:30pm That will be all from us for tonight. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, this is goodbye from me, Binoy and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care!
Faf du Plessis, the Joburg Super Kings captain is also the Player of the Match: (On the long rain delay) We knew we still had a bit of time left so we were optimistic. But there was a point where it felt it was slipping away. Grateful to get the opportunity to get this game in. (On the bowling display before the rain) It was brilliant. We saw there was a bit of extra bounce. If you hit that length, it was carrying through nicely, and on other occasions, it was holding. Of course, that changed after the rain delay. Tough over to bowl for David Wiese. Leus set the tone really well for us. Takes a brave man to hit his first ball for a lap. His gameplan is really suited to these conditions. He also used his feet to counter the bowlers and he is maturing really well. We felt the left-right combination, especially with Linde in their side, would work for us and it worked really well. The tricky part with not having played cricket is that you are looking for rhythm. I am a big rhythm player. Still taking a bit of time to kick in (after the operation). I knew it would take just one innings. Took me a bit longer than I would have liked. In the previous game, it felt like it was coming back. Glad I could do that tonight. (Change in morale in the dressing room) Tonight is huge, especially the way we did it - to win with the bonus point - and to tell the rest of the competition that we are not going anywhere.
Kieron Pollard, MI Cape Town captain: (On the discussions during the rain delay) We had to maximise the last two overs. These things happen, we have no control over it. It was a good wicket, there was a big side and a small side. Congratulations to them, they batted really well. We were out of the game after 3-4 overs. We could have tried to take it deeper but it is what it is. Well played to Joburg. (What they need to change) What must change is to have a W at the end of the game. We take this one on the chin and have to regroup.
10:06pm Well, that was fun. That is perhaps the only way to describe this six-hitting shootout. MI Cape Town, once their innings had ended, seemed in a decent position, only for them to be completely blown out of the water by du Plooy and du Plessis. 36 runs came off the two-over powerplay and that set the tone. In the end, JSK did it at a canter, and they will take lots of confidence from the way they batted. And while this was only an eight-over innings, the fearlessness they showed could be a template they use for the rest of the tournament.
Not quite the result MICT were after, although they will probably look back at this game as one that could have gone any way, given how short it was. Nevertheless, their inability to create opportunities with the ball will lead to some head-scratching. They tried to slow the game down too - at times, to du Plessis' annoyance but they were so far behind in the game that it did not matter in the grander scheme.
MICT now have two games lined up against the Pretoria Capitals, and they simply must win both of them to stand any chance of qualifying. JSK, meanwhile, have zinged up to fourth, and they will feel they have a genuine shot at qualifying.
Scores level. Can du Plooy finish it this ball?
JSK one hit away from a bonus-point victory
Pollard to bowl now
END OF OVER:5 | 13 Runs | JSK: 90/0 | RR: 18.00
- Faf du Plessis43 (16b)
- Leus du Plooy41 (14b)
- Sam Curran1-0-13-0
- Kagiso Rabada2-0-38-0
And with that, we will definitely have a result. And unless something dramatic happens, it looks like it will be a JSK win
The rain seems to have gotten steadier. Three more balls need to be bowled to constitute a game. Words being exchanged between the two skippers and the umpire. The ground staff in readiness on the fence. This is proper box-office
Five more balls and we will have constituted a game
Pollard brings himself on. Okay, looks like he has now had a change of heart. Curran to bowl the fifth over