Joburg Super Kings vs Paarl Royals Prediction: The royals won four on five games

Joburg Super Kings and Paarl Royals are going head to head in the 17th Match of South Africa T20 League at DP World Wanderers Stadium, Sandton, South Africa on 24 Jan 2024. The royals won four on five games this season. Who will win this game of cricket?

The Super Kings have experienced a series of defeats in their recent matches, losing to MI Cape Town, Durban's Super Giants, and Paarl Royals. However, they managed to secure a victory against the Pretoria Capitals. This upcoming match against the Royals gives them a chance to redeem themselves. It promises to be an intriguing fixture.

In terms of bowling, Joburg has several strengths. Lizaad Williams, a seamer, has been one of the top wicket-takers this season with nine wickets in four innings. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir also boasts an impressive economy rate of 6.46. However, with the absence of Proteas star Gerald Coetzee, Williams and left-armer Nandre Burger will need to continue leading the bowling attack. Coetzee suffered an injury before South Africa's second Test against India and has been sidelined since. There is a possibility of his return for this match.

Leus du Plooy has been the standout run-scorer for Joburg this season, scoring 153 runs in four innings. He has an impressive average of almost 40 and a strike rate of over 160. However, the team requires additional support in terms of batting. No other Joburg batter has come close to matching du Plooy's performance. England recruit Moeen Ali is the closest with 90 runs in four innings.

Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis (c), Leus du Plooy, Moeen Ali, Sibonelo Makhanya, Donovan Ferreira (wk), David Wiese, Romario Shepherd, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Imran Tahir

The Paarl Royals have been displaying impressive performances, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the title. Their ultimate goal is to overthrow the current champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Initially, Paarl achieved three consecutive wins at the beginning of the SA20 season, but experienced a loss against MI Cape Town. However, they swiftly recovered and defeated the same opponent shortly after. During the match against Joburg earlier in the 2024 SA20, Jos Buttler demonstrated exceptional batting skills, while Lungi Ngidi showcased a remarkable performance in bowling. Both players are expected to play crucial roles in the upcoming match as well. Ngidi currently holds the highest number of wickets in this season's SA20, while Buttler has consistently delivered excellent performances at the top of the batting order. Alongside Buttler, his English teammate Jason Roy has also demonstrated outstanding performances. Roy recently scored a match-winning 68 runs against Cape Town, boosting his confidence for future matches. Paarl also possesses strong local talents, Mitchell van Buuren and David Miller, who provide a solid combination in the middle order. If Paarl secures a victory in this match, it will mark their fifth win of the season. Although this may not guarantee them a spot in the semi-finals, it brings them close, pending other match results. However, Paarl should anticipate a tough challenge from the motivated Joburg team, who recently secured their first victory in the 2024 SA20 season.

Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Wihan Lubbe, David Miller (c), Mitchell Van Buuren, Fabian Allen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Obed McCoy

This game will take place at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg. The venue has already hosted two matches this season of the South African Twenty20 (SA20). The outcome of the toss has resulted in one team choosing to bat first and the other team opting to bowl.

In the SA20 matches held at the Wanderers this year, the first innings have produced scores of 243 and 167. A competitive first-innings total at this venue would be 190 or more. It would be wise to include two slow bowlers in the team and even consider opening the bowling with one of them. However, it is important to note that there is a possibility of rain on the match day, which could potentially affect the game.

The Joburg Super Kings have the advantage of playing at their home ground and have gained some momentum after their first victory in 2024. Nevertheless, the Paarl Royals have shown stronger performances in both batting and bowling. Therefore, it is recommended to bet on the Paarl Royals, who are considered favorites to maintain their undefeated record against the underdogs, Joburg Super Kings.