The Paarl Royals climbed to the top of the SA20 standings after their spin quartet sunk the Joburg Super Kings at Boland Park.
The Royals’ quartet of Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Joe Root and Dunith Wellalage spun a web around the JSK batting unit to restrict the visitors to 146-6.
Fortuin (2-22) started the visitors’ slide with two wickets in the powerplay that set the tone for Mujeeb (1-28) and the rest to follow.
“Very delighted, nice to get over the line. It was one of the wickets where we went with the spin and it worked out. I had too many options at one point which was great,” Royals captain David Miller said.
“We had them by the throat, but the last two overs let us down but that is the nature of the game. I thought it was a par score.”
Bjorn Fortuin = Early breakthrough at Boland Park#BetwaySA20 #PRvJSK #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/Q8GYa7AjPw
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 20, 2025
It would have been a lot less were it not for England’s double World Cup winner Jonny Bairstow (60 off 40 balls; two fours, three sixes) and Donovan Ferreira’s unbeaten 32 off 19 balls that saw the Super Kings add 65 runs in the last five overs.
“I thought we had a competitive score, after they took wickets early on with their bowlers put us on the back foot and fair play to them,” Bairstow said.
“If you go a bit too early, then you might be five or six down early, but if you are brave enough to keep wickets in the back end, to exploit the shorter side then you get rewards at the end. If you’re brave enough to take it to the end, and having myself and Don with a bit of firepower to exploit the shorter side was great, but maybe 15-20 short.”
HIGHLIGHTS: Paarl Royals vs Joburg Super Kings (SA20)
But even after the Super Kings’ late onslaught, the Royals still had little trouble in completing a comfortable run chase as the home team strolled home with six wickets intact. It was the Royals’ third win in succession.
The competition’s leading run-scorer Lhuan-dre Pretorius certainly enjoys batting at his new home ground with the teenage opener adding another breezy 27 off 14 balls (four fours, one six) to his two half-centuries at this picturesque venue.
“The guys at the top batted really well and got us off to a good start which got us ahead of the game,” Miller added.
There was a slight hiccup when seamer Hardus Viljoen (2-23) removed both Pretorius and Joe Root in quick succession, but the Royals were always in control of the run chase.
Miller has performed his ‘finisher’ role to perfection this season and partnered up with Mitchell van Buuren (44 off 45 balls) for a 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
David Miller = clutch king! 🔥 The Paarl Royals skipper delivered the @Betway_za Moment of the Match.#BetwaySA20 #PRvJSK #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/ybq2QBXUgN
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 20, 2025
Miller completed the job in fine style by smashing Lutho Sipamla for a massive maximum that has placed the Royals in prime position to secure a playoff spot.
“We’ve got an adaptable squad and we play according to the condition and the last two years we started really well and finished badly, and that is something we keep in mind and we have all bases covered for now,” he said.
Photo: Sportzpics