The Pretoria Capitals beat the Paarl Royals by 29 runs in the first SA20 semi-final at the Wanderers on Wednesday.
Rilee Rossouw held the Capitals’ innings together with 56 off 41 balls as the table-toppers posted a competitive 153-8 after being inserted by the Royals.
It was a surface that was not conducive to fluent strokeplay and Rossouw had to restrain his natural attacking game after the Royals spinners Bjorn Fortuin (1-24) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2-19) had started well.
Royals all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo (3-29) maintained the pressure during the middle period, but Rossouw kept the scoreboard ticking over with a few timely boundaries.
Air-Rossouw ?
That's a ??????? 6️⃣ fam!#Betway #SA20 pic.twitter.com/05LKtOrEQZ
— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) February 8, 2023
At the interval, the match was evenly poised before opening bowler Eathan Bosch provided the Capitals with the perfect start.
Bosch (2-22) struck with the second delivery of the Royals innings when he removed England opener Jason Roy.
Bosch then delivered the moment of the match when clean he bowled the in-form Jos Buttler (13) in his next over.
Bosch shows Jos who's the boss ?#Betway #SA20 #PCvPR @Betway_India pic.twitter.com/98tC5EjSTY
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) February 8, 2023
The Royals were 13-2 and faced an uphill battle. The challenge became even steeper when Rossouw utilised his golden arm to have Eoin Morgan caught on the cover boundary.
The golden arm of Rilee Rossouw has picked up the big wicket of Eoin Morgan. #PR 83/5 after 11.2 overs – target 154#Betway #SA20 #PCvPR @Betway_India pic.twitter.com/jNLlifJ0x7
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) February 8, 2023
The Royals had one last hope in the form of their captain David Miller. While Miller was at the crease anything remained possible, especially when the equation was reduced to 30 runs off the final 12 balls with two wickets remaining.
However, the return of Anrich Nortje to the attack in the penultimate over saw to the demise of Miller (31 off 27 balls), who was caught on the square-leg boundary before the tournament’s leading wicket-taker closed out the match when Colin Ingram claimed a brilliant catch off Tabraiz Shamsi to set off the Capitals’ celebrations.
The Capitals now wait for the winner of the second semi-final between the Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Centurion on Thursday to see who they will face in Saturday’s showpiece at the Wanderers.
