Paarl Royals let Pretoria Capitals back into the game by losing two wickets in three balls in the 16th overTh over, but still managed to sneak home by six wickets with two balls to spare, thanks to the brilliance of captain David Miller, in the SA20 match at Boland Park on Saturday.
Part-time spinner Will Jacks was the bowler who struck the crucial blow, smashing a 65 off 48-ball partnership between Jos Buttler and Dane Vilas, which had set the home side well on their way to a target of 159.
Jacks first ball is short and Vilas (24 out of 26) tried to hit it to the cover boundary, but cramped by a bit of turn and hit directly to the sweeper. Jacks, considered one of England’s bright prospects, then produced a classic wide-turning off-break two balls later to bowl Buttler through the gate. The England captain has shown great skill as he scored 37 off 28 balls.
That left Miller and Mitchell van Buuren with 39 runs to go off the last 27 balls, and Miller produced a brilliant display to finish, scoring 28 not out from 14 balls. Paarl needed 10 runs from the last over bowled by Anrich Nortje, and Miller collected the first boundary ball with an imperious drive through extra cover, and then all but sealed the victory when inside-edged the next leg delivery looking for another four.
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Van Buuren finished with a run-a-ball 12 not out, hitting the winning run and providing a confidence boost for a young, promising career.
Earlier, Jason Roy (21 from 16) and Wihan Lubbe (29 from 22) had given Paarl a fine start by putting on 48 for the first wicket in 5.5 overs.
Adil Rashid was the best of the Pretoria bowlers, the leg-spinner taking 1/26 in four overs, but the much-vaunted pacemen were just a little off the mark in the unique conditions of Boland Park.
Mendis participated
Pretoria Capitals have won the toss and elected to bat first. After being struck down by a stomach virus, the visitors were delighted to have Sri Lankan star Kusal Mendis join the team after the ODI series against India, as he came in perfectly for opener Phil Salt.
Mendis nullified dangerman Bjorn Fortuin, the left-arm spinner had trapped Jacks lbw for 4 in the first over, and went on to score 37 from 26 deliveries.
He and Theunis de Bruyn added 52 off 38 balls for the second wicket, and De Bruyn went on to anchor the innings with a superbly composed 53 off 47 balls, playing a difficult, low-and-slow pitch and pitch.
Rilee Rossouw (19 off 13) and Jimmy Neesham (21* off 17) made further contributions as Pretoria posted 158/6, a good score at the Paarl test ground.
Lungi Ngidi (4-0-19-1) played well up front and at the death for Paarl, while wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (4-0-29-1) also played well.
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