Ferreira, Gleeson star in Super Kings' Super Over win over Super Giants

Joburg Super Kings 205 for 4 (Ranjane 50*, du Plessis 47, Noor 3-12) tied with Durban's Super Giants (Jones 43, Markram 37, Gleeson 3-41)
Super Over Joburg Super Kings 8 beat Durban's Super Giants 6

The first tie in SA20's brief history set up a thrilling Super Over at the Wanderers, where hosts Joburg Super Kings held their nerve to clinch victory over Durban's Super Giants in front of a capacity New Year's Day crowd.

England seamer Richard Gleeson, who had returned figures of 3 for 41 during regulation time in Super Kings' shaky defence of 205, held his nerve under pressure in the Super Over, conceding just five. That wasn't anywhere near enough even for someone of Noor Ahmad's calibre to defend, as Super Kings notched up their third straight win in the competition.

Needing 19 off 12 with two accomplished finishers at the crease, the game was Super Giants' to lose, and they contrived to do just that. A complete breakdown in communication first cost them Evan Jones for a 17-ball 43 after he sparked the chase back to life following Heinrich Klaasen's dismissal.

After driving to sweeper cover, Jones set off for a second, but was sent back by David Wiese, allowing wicketkeeper Donovan Ferreira to under-arm a relay throw from the deep to Gleeson for the run-out. Off the very next ball, Gleeson speared in a pinpoint yorker to clean up Wiese, swinging the momentum decisively in Super Kings' favour.

With 15 to defend in the final over, Wiaan Mulder then saw a high full toss being whipped over deep square leg by Ethan Bosch. But with the equation down to 7 off 2, Mulder speared two wides attempting to bowl wide yorkers.

Then, with Simon Harmer muscling a boundary down the ground to level the scores, the field came in. But ice-cool Ferreira held his nerve behind the stumps after Harmer missed the final ball, and hit bull's eye to force the game into a shootout.

The turnaround

Jones, who plays domestic cricket for the Johannesburg-based Lions, felt completely at ease with the conditions at the Wanderers. And he used the local knowledge to toy with the bowling, hitting left-arm seamer Duan Jansen for two fours and a six in a match-turning 16th over that cost 22.

An over prior to the carnage off Jansen, Jones took on offspinner Prenelan Subrayen, who was dispatched for 15 as he kept missing his lengths and bowling full tosses. Jones was well supported by Aiden Markram, who initially struggled for momentum but then came into his own after Klaasen was dismissed when he holed out to long-on.

Jones, who replaced Klaasen at the crease with Super Giants needing 98 off 44, nearly blindsided Super Kings.

Neat off breaks to return 1 for 24, and an ice-cool last-ball direct hit to force the game into the Super Over was impactful enough. But long before the game had everyone biting off their nails in anticipation, Ferreira showed why he's a feared ball-striker in white-ball cricket.

Coming in to bat in the 18th over, he muscled 33 not out off 10, as Super Kings ransacked 47 off the last 12 balls. This included a sequence of two fours and five sixes as they got the perfect finishing kick. Ferreira was complemented by Shubham Ranjane, the USA batter who made an unbeaten half-century off 31 balls during which he overcame pockets of struggle initially to find some hitting form.

Ferreira's finishing kick helped Super Kings overcome a muddled middle phase during which Noor made a telling impact, picking up 3 for 12 in four frugal overs. This included the key wickets of Matthew de Villiers to break a dangerous 89-run opening stand, Faf du Plessis with a ripping wrong'un that beat the outside edge to hit top of off and later Mulder as he ballooned a catch to Kane Williamson at extra cover.

This would've been enough to earn him the Player of the Match award on most nights. But Thursday was Ferreira's night as he towered over everyone else, with the bat, ball and gloves in hand.