Royals vs Super Kings, Eliminator at Johannesburg, SA20, Feb 07 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That's all from us tonight. See you tomorrow for Qualifier 2. Ta-da!`

Losing captain David Miller: "(Disappointing?) Disappointing game to finish like that. This game has winners and losers and we were losers tonight. Not enough runs. They went at 10s/11s all the way through but I thought it was a bit stoppy. (Campaign - tale of two halves) In key moments we didn't step up. We lost big moments. We controlled most of our games but let things slip in 3-4 overs. In this kind of format, 1-2 overs is a big swing. Our performance at the death wasn't great in the last few games. Unfortunate. I thought the guys played well nonetheless. (How to arrest slides?) You have to find a way when games come thick and fast. Just need 1-2 guys to pick things up and inspire the team. We didn't do that. Glad we qualified and boys played well in the beginning."

Winning captain Faf du Plessis: "(Into the qualifiers through the back door) Who doesn't like underdogs? Just feels like things are slowly falling in place from a batting perspective. And then we are allowing our bowlers to do the trick. Inconsistency has reduced, we've got our confidence back. Confidence so important in sport. (Tahir at 44, fielding) I've played with him for a good 12 years and that's the best he has fielded. Credited to him for throwing himself like that and taking catches like that. (Surface second innings) I feel that score wasn't quite par. Anything under 160 was below par. We went ahead in the powerplay. (Qualifier 2 tomorrow) Its hard work playing back to back to back but we need to put the hard work because of how we've played at the start of the tournament. They are a very dangerous team - DSG."

Player of the Match: It is Sam Cook for his four-wicket haul. Here's Cook: "(Worth the wait to play today) Getting the nod and getting wickets was great. Best is to be able to get a chance to go again tomorrow. Coming from English conditions, trying to get the ball to swing is how I've grown. Had a bit of time to adjust and get used to the lengths here. (Getting Buttler out) Familiar players in unfamiliar surroundings. I had never bowled to Jos before, pleased with that one. We killed the game off in the powerplay. Nandre was brilliant, think he deserved few more wickets. (South African surfaces) I think it is nice to have a bit of carry to the keeper, change from home conditions."

A very one-sided affair in the end. Buoyed by the home crowd, JSK cruised to a nine-wicket win. Some people on Twitter are saying that Joburg unfairly got home-ground advantage in a knockout despite finishing fourth, but irrespective of where this game was played tonight, the way Paarl Royals batted and bowled, its unlikely they'd have won anywhere. We should have a presentation chat soon.

And then there were three. Paarl Royals eliminated in a forgettable performance in the eliminator where the pressure of the occasion and the presence of the home Jo'burg crowd crushed their morale. This was their fifth straight loss but more importantly their first defeat at the hands of Joburg Super Kings.

What a day for Joburg Super Kings to earn their first win over the Paarl Royals! They live to fight another day, well atleast 20 hours more, because they will play Durban's Super Giants tomorrow at the same venue for Qualifier 2!

du Plooy's fifty was majestic in the chase, and du Plessis held one end up before exploding at the back end. Don't forget the four-for from Cook, the three-wicket burst from Burger and the two wickets (and two catches) from Imran Tahir.

Aditya Murugesh: "Everywhere we gooo, we're the Joburg boys making all the noise, everywhere we goo!"

Stefan: "Wow, in two consecutive nights we have seen one of the best 2nd innings defences one can hope for, and almost certainly the worst. " -- summed it up, mate