Durban’s Super Giants will have to go into their next four crucial fixtures throwing everything and the kitchen sink into achieving results, if they hope to finish the 2025 SA20 league in any place other than last.
Lance Klusener’s team have been hesitant with the bat this season, with many star players failing to put runs on the board, or even get off the mark for that matter. The weather in Durban has also added to the Giants' woes.
Tuesday night’s game against MI Cape Town, which was a chance for Durban to put some much-needed points on the board and improve their track record, was unfortunately rained out.
After their loss to Sunrisers Eastern Cape on Sunday, Klusener said DSG have top-quality batters but that they just could not “kick on”. When they did, as in their first match, the team put 200 runs on the board.
There have also been questions about DSG’s batting tactics and how low down big hitters like Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen are in the order. For a side that has one of the “most destructive batsmen” in the T20 format, one could question why he only comes in at No 7 and not 3 or 4.
Klaasen at six or seven would make sense in the ODI format, where big hitters are needed to carry the tail-end, but in 20-over cricket, a good start is more desired than a good ending.
“The quality of batting we have is outstanding; unfortunately, batting is not played on paper; it's played on a surface. If you look at the last game, there were batters who got starts but didn’t kick on. When we did, which was in the first game, we were able to get over 200,” Klusener said.
On the bowling front, the Giants have been on point, from Captain Keshav Maharaj to the rest of the line-up including Noor Ahmed, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Junior Dala. The Giants' bowlers have shown up this season. Noor Ahmad has, without doubt, been the franchise's star attraction with the ball, with the game almost instantly intensifying during his over.
The left-arm wrist spinner’s action makes him difficult to pick apart, according to Klusener, and he has 8 tournament wickets so far. Klusener argued that Ahmad is a difficult bowler to read and was happy for the success he is enjoying thus far.
Maharaj has also been consistent and economical with the ball, stepping up to the plate during big moments to lower the run-rate with his left-arm spin.
Maharaj has six wickets in the tournament so far. But the Durban side could not get into their repertoire this season, with a record of six games: three losses, one win, and two abandoned games.
DSG will get a shot at redemption, but it will come at a heavy cost as they face league leaders, the Paarl Royals, at Kingsmead. Ahmad, ul-Haq, and the rest of the attack will have to hold their nerve as they face big-hitting and in-form Royals.
The Royals' opening batsmen are a mighty force this season, with Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Joe Root proving to be difficult for bowlers. Paarl is at the top of the standings with 16 points after five games and a record of four wins and a loss.
DSG will then play three away games against MI Cape Town, Paarl Royals, and Joburg Super Kings, respectively.