• Royals do the double over Capitals

    Published on

    Lungi Ngidi took 4-39 as the Paarl Royals beat the Pretoria Capitals by 10 runs in Centurion on Sunday.

    The Royals were also victorious against the Capitals at Boland Park on Friday.

    The Royal seamers’ experience proved to be the difference on a day as they restricted the Capitals to 200-7 in response to their 210-3.

    Ngidi set the tone upfront with two wickets in the first over of the Capitals’ run chase when he removed both Phil Salt and Theunis de Bruyn before returning at the death to claim a further two wickets.

    But it was West Indies international Obed McCoy who showed his immense value by holding his nerve during a frenetic final over.

    McCoy was tasked with defending just 14 runs off the last six deliveries.

    But that was only the beginning of the drama with McCoy suffering from severe cramp which required assistance from the Royals medical team after each delivery.

    The left-armer showed great character to close out the over as he delivered a mixture of slower balls and cutters that deceived Capitals tailender Hardus Viljoen.

    HIGHLIGHTS: Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals (SA20)

    The match was in the balance throughout with Rilee Rossouw (82 off 45 balls, 10 fours, four sixes) and Will Jacks (58 off 34 balls, six fours, three fours) spearheading the Capitals’ chase with a partnership of 147 off only 77 balls.

    It was a SA20 record for any wicket in Centurion, eclipsing the 141-run partnership that David Miller and Mitchell van Buuren had put together for the Royals earlier in the day.

    Miller and Van Buuren were excellent for the Royals after opener Jos Buttler (39) had set the platform.

    Van Buuren, in particular, showed how much he has matured since last season with a rollicking 72* off 40 balls (seven fours, three sixes).

    It is not often that Royals captain Miller (75*, eight fours, three sixes) plays second fiddle in a partnership, but he was content to play the supporting role until he exploded in the final over when he struck Eathan Bosch for three sixes.

    Miller’s last over pyrotechnics ultimately preserving the Royals’ unbeaten start to the season.

    Photo: Arjun Singh/Sportzpics

    Post by

    Simon Borchardt