• No Miller, no problem for Paarl Royals

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    The Paarl Royals withstood the absence of their injured captain to entrench their position at the top of the SA20 table at the Wanderers on Wednesday.

    David Miller was ruled out with a calf strain ahead of the game, with England white-ball skipper Jos Buttler taking over the leadership duties.

    The five-wicket victory over the Joburg Super Kings exhibited the Royals’ batting depth with Wihan Lubbe, and the incoming Dane Vilas sharing a 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket to steer the visitors home.

    Lubbe struck 57 of 48 balls (three fours, three sixes), while Vilas contributed 42 off 26 (four fours, one six) in his first match of the season to help the Royals reach their victory target of 169.

    Buttler also contributed 22 at the top, but it was West Indies import Fabian Allen (17* off seven balls) who provided the extravagant finishing touch with a straight six off the first ball of Lizaad Williams’ final over of the innings.

    HIGHLIGHTS: Joburg Super Kings vs Paarl Royals (SA20)

    The Royals are certainly looking early contenders in the race to secure top spot with 22 points.

    Shane Bond’s team have shown great improvement in their ability to now also win on the Highveld – the victory over JSK being their second consecutive win up north – to add to the impressive home form at Boland Park.

    Meanwhile, JSK were unable to build any momentum after their Jukskei derby victory over the Pretoria Capitals over the weekend.

    The start to the Super Kings innings had been a struggle after Royals left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin delivered a miserly four-over spell of 0-14 upfront with the new ball.

    But Faf du Plessis’ team were still able to post a competitive 168-3, courtesy of Reeza Hendricks’ stroke-filled 79* off 56 balls (seven fours, three sixes),  Leus du Plooy’s 30 off 16 balls and Moeen Ali’s 24* (12 balls).

    The Royals’ in-form seamer Lungi Ngidi moved back to the top of the competition’s wicket-takers list with the dismissal of Du Plessis, but struggled towards the backend of the innings to finish with 1-59.

    JSK remain in fifth position on the SA20 log with six points from six matches.

    Photo: Arjun Singh/Sportzpics

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    Simon Borchardt