Play-off permutations: How JSK, MICT or DSG can take the final spot

Betway SA20 Season 4 has delivered some exceptional cricket and it has now come down to the business end with three teams still battling it out for the fourth and final play-off spot with only two matches remaining.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape host MI Cape Town at St George’s Park on Sunday before Joburg Super Kings travel to Boland Park for their clash against Paarl Royals on Monday.

Pretoria Capitals, Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape have all qualified leaving Durban’s Super Giants, Joburg Super Kings and MI Cape Town jostling for one position.

All eyes will be on MI Cape Town to see whether the defending champions can keep their campaign alive in Gqeberha on Sunday.

Robin Peterson’s side are fighting for the fourth and final play-off spot still available and require a bonus point victory over the two-time champions to stay in contention.

All-rounder Corbin Bosch is certainly looking forward to the challenge at the home of The Orange Army.

“It’s going to be massive,” said Bosch, who was the hero with the ball for MI Cape Town against Sunrisers at Newlands on Friday evening.

“It (The Orange Army) is definitely another player on their side of the Sunrisers team but no better time to do an upset than Sunday.”

Sunrisers have their own objectives with Adrian Birrell’s team locked in a three-way tussle with Pretoria Capitals and Paarl Royals for top spot with each team having collected 24 points.

Capitals are currently at the summit due to a greater number of wins but the Sunrisers can overtake them with a victory in the final match at St George’s Park of Betway SA20 Season 4.

Having been a part of the play-offs since Season 1, Sunrisers coach Birrell is fully aware that there is plenty at stake as the top sides progress to Qualifier 1 at Kingsmead on Wednesday.

“We really want to ensure that we got to the top two. We want to get to that qualifier and have a chance to go straight to the final,” Birrell said.

“I think that's a big advantage. We found it in the second year going straight through. And last year, Mumbai got straight to the final. We had a long slog to get there. And I think it hurt us in the end when you played three games in four days. We had to do that long slog.

“And you're not going to ever moan about getting to a final but I thought we were a little bit fatigued in that final. So you want to give yourself a best chance to get into the top two, to give yourself a chance to go straight to the final. I think that's a very big advantage.”

JOBURG SUPER KINGS (17 points)

It’s straightforward for JSK. Their clash against Paarl Royals is a virtual quarter-final. Win and they eliminate both DSG and MI Cape Town, regardless of Sunday’s result at St George’s Park.

Maximum potential points: 22 (4 wins)

MI CAPE TOWN (14 points)

Must beat Sunrisers Eastern Cape with a bonus point to move higher than DSG on number of wins. Then hope JSK lose to Paarl Royals.

Maximum potential points: 19 (4 wins)

DURBAN'S SUPER GIANTS (19 points)

Lance Klusener’s side have completed their round-robin matches and their fate is no longer in their own hands.

They need Sunrisers to either beat MI Cape Town or deny them a bonus point to remain in contention. They also need Paarl Royals to beat Joburg Super Kings.

Maximum points: 19 (3 wins)