‘Great win for boys’ – Fans react as Paarl Royals opens SA20 2024 campaign with 27-run win over Pretoria Capitals

Paarl Royals opened their 2024 SA20 campaign on a positive note as they beat Pretoria Capitals by 27 runs at Boland Park, Paarl on Friday. Capitals were in the hunt until the halfway mark in a chase of 161 but lost the plot thereafter. Royals used the home conditions perfectly and did not give too much extras to build pressure on their opponents.

Inserted into bat first on a slightly two-paced sluggish pitch, the hosts managed to post an extremely competitive total. Jason Roy and Jos Buttler gave them a strong start by adding 42 runs in just under 5 overs. However, both openers were sent back in successive overs and Capitals were back in the game. Wihan Lubbe failed at one down but captain David Miller and Van Buuren stitched a crucial partnership.

The two added 61 runs for the fourth wicket, but it was followed by a mini-collapse. South African all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo’s blistering 14-ball 28* was the fuel for Royals’ 160/7 wickets in 20 overs. The Capitals bowlers managed to keep their opposition under control, but Phehlukwayo’s late burst resulted in them conceding at least 10 more runs.

Philip Salt’s wicket turns momentum in Royals’ favour

Philip Salt gave Capitals a brisk start, but he lost his opener Will Jacks early on. Theunis de Bruyn failed at one down but Salt and Rilee Rossouw kept the momentum going. After the first 10 overs, they were well ahead in the chase with the scoreboard reading 80/3. But the plot completely changed in the second half with Royals removing both the set batters in quick succession.

Phehlukwayo broke the dangerous partnership by dismissing Rossouw in the 10th over. The very next over Tabraiz Shamsi got rid of Salt and the game shifted in Royals’ favour. Their middle order failed to contribute to the scoreboard and had it not been for Jimmy Neesham’s hat-trick of fours in the last over, their margin of defeat would have been even more.

Speaking after the match, Royals captain Miller said: “It was a bit tight after the powerplay but the guys brought it back and executed the plans. Great finish and quite pleased. We have bolstered our bowling attack and have the confidence to defend totals. We squeezed nicely in the middle and brought it back. I think 140-150 was a par score.”

Here’s how fans reacted: 

Congratulations Royals fam, we are on the board.#SA20

— Harsh (@Barca1billion) January 12, 2024

Neesham, it’s too late buddy… #SA20

Very poor display with the bat from @PretoriaCapsSA

— 🐘🐘🐘 (@indodaLiyeza) January 12, 2024

So Sen Muthusamy was selected in this XI to do what?#SA20

— ExcelBaby (@Shaun_Analytics) January 12, 2024

Miller😉 well done guys

— 💕The Queen of the Jolinkomo's💕 (@thumek5837) January 12, 2024

Batting is 😴#sa20 pic.twitter.com/YwfTNM5Kpn

— Gaurav Kumar_B. (@itsgaura_doc) January 12, 2024

Congratulations

— Mr. TROLL🐦 (@MR_CricTroll) January 12, 2024

Thanks. Great win. Keep going.

— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) January 12, 2024