How can JSK, MICT and DSG qualify for SA20 playoffs? Scenarios explained

DSG, JSK and MICT are in race [Source: 1120_insane, MarkramBot, MIPaltanFamily/X.com]

The SA20 season 4 finds itself at an interesting juncture, with the final two matches of the league phase to go, and all times are still alive in the competition. So far, three teams have sealed their qualification for the playoffs, while three teams will fight for the number 4 spot on January 18 and 19.

As things stand ahead of the Sunday clash between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town in Gqeberha, Pretoria Capitals sit at the top of the table, followed by Paarl Royals and the Sunrisers as the three qualified teams. With Joburg Super King, Durban's Super Giants, and MICT fighting out for the last place in the SA20 knockouts, we break down the qualification scenarios of each team below.

How can DSG, JSK and MICT qualify for SA20 playoffs?

Durban's Super Giants

The Super Giants have played all their 10 league matches in the tournament, and their destiny for the remainder of the competition is out of their hands. They have been unfortunate with three of their 10 matches getting abandoned due to rain, where they received two points each.

Courtesy of Aiden Markram's blistering 108(59) in their last match, they defeated the Paarl Royals by 58 runs in their final game and received a bonus point, which took their tally to 19 points are currently placed fourth with 3 wins, 4 losses and 3 no results. Now they will rely on the remaining results to determine their fate in SA20 2025/26.

How can DSG qualify?

On the final two days of the league stage, DSG needs SEC to defeat MI Capitals or stop them from winning with a bonus point (with a net run-rate of +1.25 or more). This would either keep MICT's tally to 14 or 18.

Alongside the aforementioned result, they also need David Miller's PR to win against JSK on Monday. A JSK win in any fashion would knock DSG out.

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Joburg Super Kings

Much like DSG, the Super Kings have also been affected by the no results due to rain — their two NR games fetched them 4 points, effectively a win and a loss. They have also lost their captain, Faf du Plessis in the middle of the tournament due to an injury before Donavan Ferreira took charge.

Interestingly, in their 9th match of the league against the Pretoria Capitals, they had a golden opportunity to clinch the match and qualify before playing their 10th league game. They had reduced PC to 7/5 under 5 overs, before Dewald Brevis' 53(47) and Sherfane Rutherford's 74*(50) took the score to 143/6, and JSK eventually only got 122/8.

Now, with one final game to go, they sit 5th on the table with 17 points after 3 wins, 4 losses and two no results; however, they still have their fate in their own hands.

How can JSK qualify?

Unlike DSG, the Men in Yellow will have a great chance to seal the playoff spot without any other team's help. All they need from their final league match against the Royals on January 19 is a win, and they qualify, irrespective of whether they gain a bonus point or not.

Notably, PR are eyeing a top-placed finish to play qualifier 1, so this is expected to be a feisty contest between the two teams.

MI Cape Town

The defending champions, MICT, have had a torrid campaign, with an abysmal start before they picked up some points. In the first five matches, they had only two points, courtesy of an NR against DSG due to rain — they lost the other four matches. They went on to win three of the remaining four matches, but suffered another big loss against the Capitals.

As things stand, they are at the bottom of the points table, with 3 wins, 5 losses and 1 no result — they picked up 2 bonus points, which still gives them a chance to qualify in the final four and potentially defend their title.

How can MICT qualify?

Rashid Khan's MICT will face the Tristan Stubbs-led team in their final league stage match. While the SEC have already qualified, they will aim to finish top of the table and give a tough fight to the Men in Blue, making the match-up interesting on Sunday.

MI will have to win this match with a bonus point (a nrr of +1.25 or more) to go straight to number 4 on the night. Furthermore, they will also hope for the Royals to defeat JSK on the final day of the league and do them a favour to qualify. Even if MICT wins with a bonus point, it would not guarantee their qualification — both conditions must be met for them to go through.

Conclusion

Considering all the conditions, where three teams are fighting for a solitary spot to reach the final four of the competition and two matches to go, JSK has the most straightforward pathway to the playoffs. It will now depend on them how they take this chance.

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