Kingsmead Durban Pitch Report For DSG vs PR SA20 2025 Match

Jatin

Kingsmead Durban Pitch Report [Source: @ICC/x.com]Kingsmead Durban Pitch Report [Source: @ICC/x.com]

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Durban’s Super Giants are set to face Paarl Royals in Match 18 of the SA20 2025 on Thursday, January 23, at Kingsmead in Durban. With one team sitting at the bottom of the table and the other riding high near the top, this clash is shaping up to be a tale of two halves.

Durban’s Super Giants

It’s been a rough ride for Durban’s Super Giants this season. They’ve played six matches but only managed to win one. With three losses and two no-results, they are sitting at the bottom of the table. They need a miracle or at least a massive turnaround to stay alive in the tournament.

Their last completed game was a six-wicket loss to Sunrisers Eastern Cape, and it wasn’t pretty. After deciding to bat first, DSG collapsed to 115/8 in 20 overs. Kane Williamson was the only batter to show some fight with a gritty 44, while Naveen-ul-Haq chipped in with a late cameo, smashing 30 off 15 balls. Sadly, the rest of the lineup folded like a deck of cards.

On the bowling front, skipper Keshav Maharaj led from the front with figures of 2/18 in four overs. Naveen and Noor Ahmad took a wicket each, but the low total left them with little to defend. If DSG wants to stand a chance against the Royals, their batters need to step up big time. Their bowlers, especially Maharaj and Noor, will also have to bring their A-game.

Paarl Royals

The Royals are in red-hot form this season, sitting comfortably near the top of the table with four wins from five matches. They have been clinical in both departments and look like a team that’s hard to beat.

In their last outing, they outplayed Joburg Super Kings, winning by six wickets. The Royals’ bowlers kept things tight, restricting JSK to 146/6. Bjorn Fortuin grabbed two wickets, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Joe Root, and Dayyaan Galiem chipped in with one apiece.

Their batting lineup then made light work of the chase. Lhua-dre Pretorius gave them a flying start with a quickfire 27 off 14 balls. Mitchell van Buuren played a solid hand with 44 runs, and skipper David Miller finished things off with an unbeaten 40 off 32 balls. The Royals are riding high on momentum and will look to make it five wins out of six.

Kingsmead Durban Stats And Records In SA20 2025

Criterion
Data
Matches Played4
Matches Won Batting 1st3
Matches Won Bowling 1st0
Average 1st Innings Score153
Average 2nd Innings Score113.8


Kingsmead Pitch Report: Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?

The Kingsmead pitch has been a mixed bag this season. With an average run rate of around 8.5, batters can enjoy the pace and bounce on offer. However, spinners have been the real game-changers here. 

They’ve taken more than half the wickets at this venue, making players like Noor Ahmad, Keshav Maharaj, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman ones to watch. Also, it's worth mentioning that the ball did hold up a bit in the last game; so the pacers should vary their pace and hit the hard length rather than bowling too short or full. 

That said, chasing hasn’t been easy at Kingsmead this season. Three out of four matches have been won by teams batting first, with one game ending in no result. This makes the toss crucial. The captain winning it is likely to bat first and set a challenging target.

Players To Watch Out For At Kingsmead Durban

Lhuan-dre Pretorius

  • Lhuan-dre Pretorius has been nothing short of sensational for the Royals. In five matches, he’s smashed 233 runs at an average of 46.60 and a stunning strike rate of 179.23.
  • He’s also hit two half-centuries and a blazing 97, making him the Royals’ go-to man in the powerplay. If he gets going, DSG will have a mountain to climb.

Noor Ahmad

  • Noor Ahmad has been a shining light in an otherwise disappointing campaign for DSG. The young spinner has taken eight wickets in five matches, including a stunning 4/25 earlier in the season.
  • His economy rate of 6.66 shows how tough he’s been to score off. On a pitch that favours spinners, Noor could turn the game on its head.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

  • Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been a key weapon for the Royals. With eight wickets in five matches at an economy of 7.50, he’s been both effective and economical.
  • His ability to bowl in the powerplay and middle overs makes him a huge threat. If he gets it right, DSG’s batters could be in for a tough time.