Eliminator showdown: Paarl Royals aim to bounce back against JSK

Paarl Royals will be looking to rebound against Joburg Super Kings when they face off in the Eliminator at Centurion on Thursday evening.

The Royals are fresh off a heavy defeat at the hands of JSK in the final group match on Monday. The Boland Park-based side have also yet to win a game since qualifying for the playoffs and will now need to put their best foot forward to remain in the competition.



“We had a bit of an off game two games ago. I think that was just one of those days where nothing went our way. With the nature of this competition, you're never going to play 10 perfect games in the group stages,” said all-rounder Dan Lawrence.

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“In the last game, I thought we played a fairly decent game of cricket. We were just missing one more contribution with the bat and I think that would have made it a fairly tight game. But for tomorrow (Thursday), I think it's all about turning up and being focused on the job we have, and that's to win.

“I'm very confident that if we turn up and play to our potential, we'll be more than fine.”

The Royals are keeping their fingers crossed that injured captain David Miller will pass a late fitness test, but have put Lawrence on standby to lead the team should he not be ready to take his place.

Lawrence is confident that the Royals’ recent record on the Highveld will benefit them when they face JSK.

“In the two games we've had up here, obviously we had a great win when we chased down a modest total, and we were in a good position to win before the rain and lightning came in Joburg,” he said.

“I think we're going to take a lot of encouragement from that. We played JSK only a couple of days ago, so we've got their team very fresh in our minds and I'm sure we'll come in all guns blazing tomorrow.”

Joburg Super Kings, meanwhile, are full of confidence after their crucial victory over the Royals at Boland Park, which secured qualification for the playoffs.

“It's nice coming into this game off the back of a win against the same opposition, but it's a new day, a new game and different conditions,” said JSK stand-in captain James Vince.


“What happened a couple of days ago in Paarl gives us confidence, but tomorrow will be a different challenge against a good side, so we'll have to make some adjustments.

“I've got a lot of confidence that tomorrow there will be one or two of us who can put our hands up and deliver a match-winning performance.

“In T20 cricket, it only takes one or two players to have a day out to come out on the right side. As long as we believe in that, hopefully a couple of us can have a good day and get the job done.”


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