Klusener reflects on disappointing SA20 campaign for DSG: ‘Small mistakes have plagued us’

One of the SA20 competition’s strongest-looking teams, Durban’s Super Giants, have just about been eliminated from the race for the play-offs following a fourth defeat this campaign, against the Paarl Royals in Paarl on Tuesday night.

Lance Klusener’s side, stacked with some of the best batters and bowlers in the competition, went down to the Royals on the last ball of the match on Tuesday; the home team’s Sikandar Raza hitting a six off David Wiese’s bowling to win the game.

While the Royals (19 points) moved up the table and are now in a position to challenge for a top two finish with three matches remaining, DSG have one game left and are down in fifth place with 14 points from two wins, four losses and three no-results due to rain.

On Tuesday they went past 180 for the fourth time this season but ended up on the losing side.

Aiden Markram, with 66, led his side to 186/5, but the Royals got to their target on the final ball, with Raza (27 not out off 13), Rubin Hermann (65 not out off 45) and Dan Lawrence (63 off 41) the big contributors.

DSG’s Klusener said there were no excuses for the defeat.

“There are obviously lots of ifs and buts, and you can dissect it as much as you want, but I thought that 100-run partnership there in the middle [for the Royals] was the difference,” said Klusener.

“They batted well, and it’s probably what we were missing.”

Lawrence and Hermann put on 106 runs for the third wicket for Paarl in their run chase.

‘Game isn’t played on paper’

Klusener also spoke about his team’s up-and-down season.

“Just small mistakes here and there have plagued us a little bit this season. Catches win matches,” he said. “With the bat as well. We’ve been searching for partnerships and in T20 cricket it’s big.

“The game isn’t played on paper; you’ve got to get on the grass and do your bit as well. The rain has hurt us … in three games we didn’t get an opportunity to showcase [our game], and that will hurt in the long run. But there are no excuses, we could have been better with the bat.”

Raza, who hit the winning six on the last ball on Tuesday, said it felt “nice” to contribute in such a way.

“Performance from cricketers depends on the culture, environment, and how much fun one is having. I’m truly humbled and blessed to be here with Paarl. It’s a fantastic family and wonderful changing room. You want to do those magic things for the team, and to finish the game like that, after two poor games from me, feels nice.”

DSG’s last league match is on Saturday at home, against the Paarl Royals.