Match Center

Yes, Miller's right. Paarl Royals' next match is a night game, against Durban's Super Giants on Monday, 27th January, 2025. The good thing is the game is in Paarl, so there is no more travel for the next few days. As far as the Pretoria Capitals are concerned, they head back home to take on Joburg Super Kings on Tuesday, 28th January, 2025, also in a night game. We are done from Paarl but are not done for the day yet! Game 21 is all set to happen between MI Cape Town and Durban's Super Giants in Cape Town with our buildup already having begun. So do head over to that matchcentre. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

The victorious skipper of Paarl Royals, DAVID MILLER, says that he is very satisfied with the win, especially at the back end of the tournament. Praises his team for fighting so hard in this heat. On being informed that this was ONLY THE THIRD TIME IN T20s that all the 20 overs were bowled by spinners, Miller says that the options and the pitch taking spin made the decision easy. Adds that with the sun burning down, the pitch was bound to slow down in the second innings even more. On his team's success, David puts it down to doing the 'boring' things really well, as in adapt to the conditions, scrap hard when conditions are not in your favour and stay together as a group. On the team's further prospective, DM says that the team will rest for a couple of days, take care of their bodies and then get ready for their next match, which he believes, is a night game.

The captain of Pretoria Capitals, RILEE ROSSOUW, admits that 141 was a difficult target to chase down, putting down to poor execution with the ball in the last 5 overs. Just wants his bowlers to just focus on the execution as the plans are all set nicely in place. Praises Will Jacks for the way he fought hard in this heat. Is eager to go back to the Highveld where bouncy wickets suit their style of play.

Paarl Royals' JOE ROOT HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his wonderful unbeaten 78 with the bat and 2 wickets with the ball. Asked about his batting innings, Root details that it was all about understanding the pitch, be it with bat or ball. With the ball, Root says that he was trying to use the lack of bounce to his advantage. Feels that to try and get to 140 was a good effort from Paarl, praising David Miller for closing out the innings well. On being asked about the possible trial by spin in the upcoming ODI series against India, Root smiles and admits that he might get a fair bit of spin in India.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Rooooooooooooooooooooooootttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt! This is what the Capitals' fans might be thinking right now. At Centurion, he scores an unbeaten 92 to make a chase of 212 look like a child's play and in Paarl, he first scores an unbeaten 78 with the bat and then picks up 2 wickets with the ball, to turn up with an all-round effort! He was the one man standing in between Capitals and victory with a meaningful contribution from David Miller towards the end of the first innings. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

Well, the Capitals might feel that they have missed a big opportunity here. They would have believed that they could chase down 141 at the break but the Powerplay dented them. They were three down in next to no time and were resigned to play catch up from there. The wickets fell due to the batters aiming to maximize the fielding restrictions and attack the new ball. But they could never adapt to the slowness of the pitch or the guile of the opposition spinners. Will Jacks and Kyle Verreynne did a fine recovery job, with a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket, but once the latter fell, the game shut down. In fact, those were the only two players to reach double figures! Jacks made a fighting 56 but he ran out of partners towards the end.

It was no secret that the Royals needed their bowlers to deliver to try and defend 140. It was no surprise either that they looked towards their spinners to bail them out. The only question was - how many spinners? There were 5 in the XI and all 5 were used. Rephrase. ONLY those 5 were used. No pacer needed. Everyone bowled well, keeping the Capitals in check. Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Joe Root took 2 wickets apiece but in general, the bowling unit was brilliant. Only three overs out of 20 went in double digits, tallying 42 - the remaining 17 conceded just 87.

Excellent display by Paarl Royals. They register a win while batting first for the first time in this season, having won the previous 5 and even lost one while chasing. They execute a double over Pretoria Capitals, having defeated them in Centurion exactly a week ago.

SIX! It is a biggie to end the game but PAARL ROYALS PREVAIL BY 11 RUNS! Flighted, outside off, Simmonds gets down and swings this cleanly over long on to end the game.

Outside off, Kyle Simmonds has a wild swing but misses.

Kyle Simmonds walks in next at number 9, replacing Will Jacks.

OUT! CAUGHT! Root has his second now and that should be the official closure of the match. Slower ball once again, Will Jacks attempts another slog sweep, attempting to fetch the ball from outside off. This time though, the top edge generated goes straight back. Dinesh Karthik, the keeper, moves a few yards to his left and takes it. End of a fighting knock from Jacks, 56 (53) but he cannot see his team over the line.

OUT! CAUGHT! Root has his second now and that should be the official closure of the match. Slower ball once again, Will Jacks attempts another slog sweep, attempting to fetch the ball from outside off. This time though, the top edge generated goes straight back. Dinesh Karthik, the keeper, moves a few yards to his left and takes it. End of a fighting knock from Jacks, 56 (53) but he cannot see his team over the line.

Top edge, lands safely! Slower through the air, fuller in length outside off, Will attempts another slog sweep but is done in by the slowness off the pitch. Gets a massive top edge which goes high in the air but lands exactly between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket! A brace taken.

SIX! Well, this will help! Flighted delivery, but slightly shortish on middle, Jacks jumos down the track and pulls it massively over mid-wicket! Gets to his HALF CENTURY in 51 balls. Can he make use of the remaining deliveries? 20 needed from 4 balls now.

Full ball, down the leg side, Will Jacks mistimes his slog through square leg. Charges back for the second. 26 needed from 5 balls now.