Paarl Royals face Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 Eliminator at Centurion Park in Centurion on Thursday, 22 January 2026, with the match scheduled to start at 17:30 local time. This is a straight knockout contest, with the winner advancing to Qualifier 2 and the loser seeing their SA20 campaign come to an end.
Outright Betting Update – Click Here to Bet
With the league phase complete, Sunrisers Eastern Cape remain favourites to lift the trophy at 2.00, followed by Pretoria Capitals at 2.60. Paarl Royals and Joburg Super Kings are both priced at 7.50, reflecting the uphill task facing the winner of this Eliminator, who will still need to win two more matches to claim the title.
1st Eliminator Preview
Paarl Royals finished third on the table with 24 points from 10 matches, a campaign built on consistency rather than dominance. They won five games, lost four, and had one no result, but their net run rate suffered after a heavy 58-run defeat to Durban’s Super Giants in Match 27. That result exposed some fragility in the Royals’ batting when early wickets fall, and Captain David Miller is a doubtful starter due to a groin injury.
Joburg Super Kings arrive with momentum after a convincing 44-run win over Paarl Royals in Match 30, a result that sealed fourth place and their spot in the playoffs. Batting first at Boland Park, JSK posted 166/5 before bowling the Royals out for 122, with Leus du Plooy’s 54 off 27 balls* setting the tone and Prenelan Subrayen’s 3/14 finishing the job. That performance under pressure will give them confidence heading into this knockout clash.
Head-to-Head: Paarl Royals and Joburg Super Kings have met twice during the league phase. Their first encounter at the Wanderers was abandoned due to rain with no result, while Joburg Super Kings claimed the second meeting at Boland Park, as highlighted above.
Match Odds – Click Here to Bet
Paarl Royals: 1.80
Joburg Super Kings: 2.05
Suggested Bets
Paarl Royals to Win @ 1.80
Despite losing the final league meeting, the Royals have been the more consistent side across the tournament and that performance aside JSK have looked vulnerable of late. In a knockout scenario, my money is on them to keep JSK at bay.
Top Paarl Royals Wicket Taker – Ottniel Baartman @4.25
Baartman has been one of the Royals’ most reliable performers with the ball, highlighted by his 5/16 against Pretoria Capitals in Match 25 and he has 17 wickets 3 clear of his nearest rival this season. On a Centurion surface that often rewards seamers who hit the deck hard, he shapes as a strong contender to lead the wicket-taking.
Top Paarl Royals Run Scorer – Dan Lawrence at 5.00
Lawrence has really impressed me since appearing on the scene and he has scored 158 runs at an average of 31. A stylish player who seems composed under pressure he looks the man to see Paarl Royals through to Qualifier 2.
Prices correct at the time of writing and subject to change.
