Faf du Plessis made a brilliant 87 to guide Joburg Super Kings to a seven-wicket win over Paarl Royals and keep their play-off hopes in their own hands in the SA20. Chasing 151, opener Du Plessis hit four fours and seven sixes in his 55-ball knock before he was dismissed with 21 required.

Mitchell Owen, the newest Australian hero, who smashed a 39-ball hundred for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash Final last week has been roped in as Root’s replacement for the remainder of the SA20 and Paarl will hope he can provide a similar spark for them as he did Down Under.

Faf du Plessis was in imperious form with a sensational 87 from only 55 balls to set up an emphatic seven-wicket victory for the Joburg Super Kings in their SA20 match against the Paarl Royals at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday.