Royals vs Sunrisers, Qualifier 2 at Johannesburg, SA20, Jan 23 2026 - Match Result

James Coles, Player of the Match: Came better than expected, chuffed to get into the final. Fortunately got to see what the pitch was doing bowling first. I stuck to the plan and committed fully. (On Muthusamy) He is unbelievable to bowl behind, watching him go about his business was impressive. (On fans) They have been our twelfth man all trip. They were singing to us when we did a lap of honour, couldn't thank them enough

Royals didn't have enough runs on the board, let down by their batters. They were in the doldrums in the powerplay, staring into the abyss after losing three wickets for 31 by the end of first six and never really got back on their feet from there, scrapping their way to 115. It would have been a lot worse had Verreynne not shown his grit and fightback. It was a collapse and they were out of sorts against a potent bowling attack that gave nothing away on the big night. In reply, Quinton de Kock got off to a flier and his 25 off 12 ensured there was no panic. He set the tone and then Jordan Hermann played an almost run-a-ball innings of 17. Matthew Breetzke remained not out on 19 off 18, not throwing caution to the wind while, the standout performer, James Coles was like, what's all the fuss about -- scoring a classy 45 off a 19-run knock as Sunrisers stormed their way to the final. It all sets up beautifully for Sunday, when two top-quality sides will wrestle for the ultimate prize

Mathi: "The difference between JSK yesterday and SEC today is taking down of spinners of PR, how beautifully SEC batsmans had played spin as compared to JSK batters,,,,,"

smail Moola : "Back at my beloved Wanderers..this is the strangest Wanderers pitch of all time..spinning like a Rajkot rager..Miss the green Mamba decks of old"

11.4

Pretorius to Coles, SIX runs

Waltz their way tot he victory and romped to the final in style! Imperious! Coles has played a gem of an innings, giving no sniff to Royals. Got it in the arc and pounded it over midwicket for a huge six to seal the deal

11.3

Pretorius to Coles, FOUR runs

Brute force in his wrists, touch short and offers some room, flashes a square cut and it runs away to the rope

11.2

Pretorius to Breetzke, 1 run

Good length and pushed across off, slapped to short cover for a quick single

11.1

•

Pretorius to Breetzke, no run

Around the wicket, good length and hung away outside off, runs it down to short third

Over11

9 runsNeed 9 from 54b

SEC 106/3CRR: 9.63 RRR: 1.00

JM Coles 35 (17b 3x4 2x6)MP Breetzke 18 (16b 2x4)

AM Tribe0/14 (2)

10.6

Asa Tribe to Coles, 2 runs

Tossed up wicket to wicket, drives it through the line toward long-on, boundary check underway, looks clean, no body part in contact when he was in contact with the rope

10.5

Asa Tribe to Breetzke, 1 run

Very slow through the air, length or a touch full, floating like a petal outside off, leans out into a fluent punch to short cover

10.4

Asa Tribe to Coles, 1 run

Bit short and leg-stump, steps back and whips it to deep backward square for a single

10.3

•

Asa Tribe to Coles, no run

Flighted delivery on a length or a touch shorter, no real spin just holding its line outside off, maneuvered to shot square leg and denies the run

10.2

Asa Tribe to Breetzke, 1 run

Bowls it full on middle, clipped it off his shin to deep midwicket for a single

10.1

Asa Tribe to Breetzke, FOUR runs

silky cover drive, racing to the finishing line, got a fuller one outside off, beautifully carved away into he gap at extra cover

Over10

21 runsNeed 18 from 60b

SEC 97/3CRR: 9.70 RRR: 1.80

JM Coles 32 (14b 3x4 2x6)MP Breetzke 12 (13b 1x4)

DW Lawrence0/21 (1)

9.6

Lawrence to Coles, SIX runs

dispatched it out of the park! Long way back over cow corner for a six! this over completely put the game to bed. 21 off the over. Supreme connection, made it look so easy, right under it and timing was superb

9.5

Lawrence to Breetzke, 1 run

Good length on middle, flicks it with the spin to deep square for a single

9.4

Lawrence to Coles, 1 run

Again leg-sidish, connected on the flick to deep backward square

9.4

Lawrence to Coles, 5 wide

That's a clanger at this stage, shorter and skids on, drifting away from leg-stump, keeper cannot get his hand to it, he didnt have any chance to prevent extras, spills away to the rope

9.3

•

Lawrence to Coles, no run

Spun a mile from outside off, tried another sweep and missed it, lucky it did not hit the off-stump

9.2

Lawrence to Coles, FOUR runs

back to back boundaries, good length and outside off, stays low and plays a full-blooded sweep shot to deep midwicket, misfield

9.1

Lawrence to Coles, FOUR runs

over the wicket, drops short on middle, pounces on it and crunches a pull to deep backward square

Over9

5 runsNeed 39 from 66b

SEC 76/3CRR: 8.44 RRR: 3.54

JM Coles 17 (9b 1x4 1x6)MP Breetzke 11 (12b 1x4)

AM Tribe0/5 (1)

8.6

Asa Tribe to Coles, 1 run

Ticking the scoreboard, shorter and drifting in at middle, uses the depth of the crease and pulls it to deep midwicket, rollicking along nicely in front of a sold out house

8.5

Asa Tribe to Breetzke, 1 run

looped up on a length and gets it to kick back from outside off, calmly nurdled out to short third, another single, that's all they need to do and wait for the looseners

8.4

Asa Tribe to Coles, 1 run

Pulls his length back, flatter trajectory, fifth stump line, shuffles across to flick it to the leg side and earns another single, playing the situation, smart batting

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Best performances - batters

Spike GraphWagon Zone

K Verreynne

52 runs (46)

5 fours1 six

Productive shot

cover drive

11 runs

1 four1 six

Control

67%