Keshav Maharaj, the South African cricketer of Indian origin, has extended his best wishes for the upcoming Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22. Maharaj, known for his devotion to Hinduism, had also visited temples in India during the recently concluded World Cup. The ceremony is expected to be a grand event with the participation of prominent figures from various industries. Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli and other sports personalities have received formal invitations to attend this auspicious occasion.

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Keshav Maharaj wishes everyone ahead of the Pran Pratishtha of Lord Rama in Ram Temple. pic.twitter.com/zU00hr7DgJ
 Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 21, 2024

Coming to cricket in South Africa, it was a day for the power hitters with Donovan Ferreira and Tristan Stubbs guiding their respective teams Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape to victory on “Derby Saturday” in the SA20.

Ferreira blasted the competition’s fastest-ever half-century off only 18 balls (Six fours, three sixes) before finishing on 56 not out to help JSK chase down Pretoria Capitals’ 167/9 at a heaving Wanderers.

The experienced Moeen Ali provided solid support with 25 not out that formed part of an unbroken 77-run partnership off just 34 balls that helped ease the home team over the finish line by a six-wicket victory margin.

The successful chase was earlier set up by another 70-run partnership between Leus du Plooy (33) and Sibonelo Makhanya (40). Will Jacks (2/26) was the pick of the bowlers for Pretoria Capitals.

The Capitals were on the back foot throughout the encounter at the Bullring with only debutant Kyle Verreynne, who replaced Theunis de Bruyn at number three, holding the visitors’ innings together with an undefeated 72 not out off 52 balls, consisting of seven fours and a six.

The Super Kings seamers were in supreme form with Nandre Burger (2/30), Lizaad Williams (3/26) and Romario Shepherd (3/39) claiming eight Capitals wickets between them.

In the earlier afternoon clash, Sunrisers required a blistering 66 not out off 37 balls, with three fours and four sixes from dangerman Tristan Stubbs to get across the line over Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead.

The defending champions restricted DSG to 159/7, courtesy of Simon Harmer’s career-best T20 figures of 4/18.

It was a complete change of fortunes for Harmer, who formed part of the first SA20 trade during the off-season with him moving to Sunrisers and JJ Smuts heading to Kingsmead, after conceding 0/53 in the first-round fixture between these two teams at St George’s Park.

Harmer’s victims were Matthew Breetzke (35 off 24 balls, with five fours and a six) before ripping through the much-vaunted DSG middle-order by sending Smuts (9), Heinrich Klaasen (31 in 17 balls, with a four and three sixes) and Marcus Stoinis (1) all back to the dugout.

The Sunrisers’ chase was on a slippery slope when they were reduced to 41/3, which included midweek centurion Jordan Hermann (25 in 26 balls, with three fours and a six) scalp, before captain Aiden Markram (38 in 29 balls, with three boundaries and a six) and Stubbs stabilised the innings with a 56-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Stoinis (2/27), though, struck a double blow for DSG when the Australian all-rounder removed Markram and Patrick Kruger with successive deliveries to set up a grandstand finish.

But Stubbs had unfinished business. He failed in his bid to take the Sunrisers over the line in the first-round clash, but he was not going to let it slip through his grasp again.

He found an able partner in Marco Jansen (24 not out, 14 balls with two fours and a six) as the pair shared an unbroken 66-run stand to push the Sunrisers up to the third on the table whilst condemning DSG to a second consecutive defeat.