Saturday’s first match marks Match 27 of the 2026 SA20 competition. Match 27 has the Paarl Royals traveling to Durban to face the Durban’s Super Giants.
Here is a look ahead at the contest.
Durban’s Super Giants VS Paarl Royals Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
Durban’s Super Giants VS Paarl Royals Date: Saturday, January 17
Durban’s Super Giants VS Paarl Royals Odds:
History
This season’s SA20 has been a wild ride. Every time you think you understand the teams and their relative strengths, another upset happens that shifts the balance of power.
That was the case again on Friday, when bottom of the log MI Cape Town knocked off the joint top squad in Sunrisers Eastern Cape. It was a low-scoring game, but MICT used the home-field advantage at Newlands to win by three wickets, with the final runs coming in the last over.
The match has relevance to both sides playing on Saturday at Kingsmead. Durban’s Super Giants slipped to the bottom of the log, and their chance of making the playoffs looks very slim. They need to win here, then hope that the Joburg Super Kings lose both their remaining matches. Even with that scenario, they could still be bumped with a win on Saturday if MICT picks up a bonus point victory in their final match.
The news is much better for the Paarl Royals. They have a far worse NNR than Sunrisers, and the two teams sit level on 24 points. They have two games remaining, just one for the Eastern Cape side, so a pair of wins guarantees them finishing top of the regular season log.
Nothing should be taken for granted in the 2026 SA20. Especially given that the Match 23 meeting between these two sides was decided in favor of Paarl via a last-ball six to give a six-wicket win.
Durban’s Super Giants
Durban will have left frustrated on Tuesday, as that six is one shot that has dashed their playoff chances. Aiden Markram went for a captain’s knock, making 66 for 33 as the wickets of Sunil Narine and Jos Buttler were given away cheaply.
Their other star on that day was England’s Liam Livingstone. Linvingstone understood the assignment as he came in in the 17th over. He went to town on the late stage bowling, crushing 32 from 10 deliveries to give the Super Giants a very defendable total of 185.
Paarl Royals
Silkandar Raza was the hero on Tuesday as he struck a full toss from David Wiese long over mid-wicket for six to claim a huge victory. It was a dominant batting display from Paarl on one of the better wickets we have seen this season. A third wicket stand between Dan Lawrence and Rubin Hermann went for 106, with the Royals finishing on 119 for the loss of just four wickets.
Best Bets
I can see the Super Giants stealing this as they are in must-win territory. Jos Buttler is 73/20 to be the top batsman, and he will want to put on a show during the power play after letting the side down last time out. Livingstone is an interesting 7/1 to repeat his heroics from the first match, but you are relying on the top order falling with enough time for him to inject his power if you take that bet.
