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An excellent comeback with the ball handed the Paarl Royals an important Betway SA20 10-run victory over the Pretoria Capitals at Supersport Park in Centurion on Sunday.
Having being sent into bat first, the Royals posted a very competitive 210 for three with David Miller and Mitchell van Buuren both scoring maiden SA20 half-centuries. In reply, the Capitals seemed to be flying to victory with Rilee Rossouw and Will Jacks carting the Royals’ bowling attack to all parts of the park, but an inspired Lungi Ngidi turned the tide to restrict the Capitals to 200 for seven in reply.
Ngidi (4-0-39-4) stunned the Centurion crowd as he dismissed both Phil Salt (0) and Theunis de Bruyn (4) in the first over of the innings but then Rossouw joined Jacks to set a new record for the highest partnership in the SA20 at Supersport Park.
Rossouw was inventive and powerful, moving around his crease, reverse-hitting and clubbing the ball around the park. The former Proteas player struck four maximums and 10 boundaries before falling for 82 from just 45 balls. Jacks was no less inventive as the Englishman struck three sixes and six boundaries in his 58 from 34 balls.
The pair had added 147 from just 82 balls for the third wicket. The pair had taken the Capitals to within 60 runs of victory and were above the required run rate. But then David Miller, in search of a much needed victory, brought his strike-bowler back into the attack.
Rossouw then launched the fourth ball of Ngidi’s third over towards the legside boundary where Jason Roy pulled off a calm, but stunning catch, taking the ball on the boundary before tossing it up in the air, crossing the rope, then jumping back to complete the catch.
The fall of Rossouw’s wicket then saw the departure of Jacks just three balls later as Bjorn Fortuin (4-0-36-1) castled the right-hander. Obed McCoy (4-0-30-1) then had Colin Ingram popping a ball to Fortuin in the covers to send shivers through the Capitals dressing room.
Jimmy Neesham (20) struck four boundaries from his nine balls but was then caught in the deep by Fabian Allen from the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo (4-0-41-1). Corbin Bosch (10) struck one six but was then trapped in front by Ngidi in his last over.
McCoy was asked to defend 13 off the final over and despite a knee injury, the West Indian seamer conceded just three runs off the final six balls to hand the Royals an important 10-run win, making it two from two in the space of three days over the Capitals.
Earlier, Miller and Van Buuren had posted the highest partnership at Supersport Park when the pair added 141 runs from just 76 balls for the fourth wicket. Miller, who’s previous SA20 best was just 42, struck three sixes and eight boundaries from just 42 balls, ending unbeaten on 75.
Van Buuren, who was the early aggressor in the stand, also struck three sixes and added seven fours from just 40 balls, ending undefeated on 72. Jos Buttler provided some stability upfront after the early loss of Roy (5), caught by Jacks at cover-point off Daryn Dupavillon (3-0-38-1).
Neesham (2-0-18-1) removed Wihan Lubbe (12), who struck one four and a six from 10 balls but then popped an easy catch to Jacks at mid-off. Buttler, who struck five fours and a six from 23 balls, was well caught by Jacks at wide long-off for a well-played 40.
Miller and Van Buuren were measured and mature in their partnership with Van Buuren being the aggressor while Miller offered the experience. Miller finally came to light in the final over when he struck Eathen Bosch (4-0-46-0) for three sixes in the final over of the innings to push the Royals over the 200-run mark.
The Capitals, who ended last season’s campaign as top-dogs, are yet to win this season, having lost both their opening games to the Royals.
**As published on Supersport.com
