The Paarl Royals completed a historic five-game 100% home record at Boland Park on Monday.
It is the first time any team has gone unbeaten at home throughout the league phase of the competition, with the previous best being Joburg Super Kings’ four victories and one washout at the Wanderers in the inaugural 2023 season.
But the Royals have gone one step further with their thrilling six-wicket victory over Durban’s Super Giants, who have now been eliminated as last season’s runners-up can now no longer qualify for the playoffs.
The cream of South Africa’s young talent, Luhan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka, played a major role in the Royals maintaining their stranglehold on the top of the SA20 table. The Royals move to 28 points.
The teenage duo did the double act, with Maphaka delivering his best performance of the competition thus far with fine figures of 2-22 to restrict DSG to 143-7 before Pretorius clubbed 43 off 29 balls (five fours, one six) in the successful run chase.
Pretorius reclaimed the top run-scorer position from his opening partner Joe Root, who was trapped lbw off the first ball of the innings on Monday, by becoming the first batsman to pass the 300-run mark this season.
The Royals have certainly unearthed new young batsmen this season and Hermann also continued his dream debut SA20 season with a superb 59 off 51 balls (four fours, two sixes) to set up the chase.
Hermann showed great innovation, particularly against the spinners as he swept and reverse-swept with confidence.
But it was left to all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem to smash the winning six with just two balls remaining to take the Royals over the line.
HIGHLIGHTS: Paarl Royals vs Durban’s Super Giants (SA20)
After playing five spinners in their lineup in the previous match, the Royals rejigged their bowling lineup with the return of Galiem and Maphaka to the starting XI.
Maphaka delivered his best performance of the competition thus far, striking upfront and at the death.
He sent down a peach that burst through Brandon King’s defence upfront before flummoxing Heinrich Klaasen with a slower ball.
“I was really itching to put in a good performance. I had not been performing too well, wanted to put up a good performance for the boys and the team,” Maphaka said.
“I have bowled to him [Klaasen] a few times in the nets. That [slower ball] seemed to work. I probably trained that since I was 12 years old, have it down nicely, so I tried to bowl it, and I was pleased it came off.”
The Super Giants will be ruing a season where luck has deserted them, with Keshav Maharaj’s team not finding form when they needed it most.
Australian T20 World Cup winner Marcus Stoinis tried his best to make an impact with his maiden SA20 half-century off just 35 balls (four fours, two sixes).
He finished unbeaten on 55 and partnered with Kane Williamson (45 off 36 balls) in a 53-run partnership.
Stoinis was particularly severe on Root, taking 24 runs off 11 deliveries sent down by the off spinner, including two maximums in the 18th over.
But it was ultimately not enough as the Royals’ victory parade marched on.
The Royals’ only concern will be the fitness of captain David Miller, who left the field during DSG’s innings and did not come out to bat in the run chase.
Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics
