Paarl Royals have been in the top four of the SA20 for a long time, but could only shorten their lease on Tuesday night and secure a place in the semi-finals in their last round match, against Pretoria. Capital in Centurion on Tuesday night.
Read more: Paarl Royals beat Eastern Cape Sunrisers in SA20 match
Paarl set a huge target of 227 with a brilliant Pretoria Capitals batting display, but that target went straight out the window when they slumped to 38/3 in the powerplay. They lost by 59 runs, but their more important aim was to reach 163 as the nett run rate would be higher than the Durban Super Giants.
The popular Boland-based side could only squeeze themselves to score in the final over, helped by four byes off the bowling of leg-spinner Adil Rashid, finishing at 167-9. That they made it far thanks to Jos Buttler, whose 70 off 45 balls showed great skill and strength of character.
England’s current captain Buttler came in after openers Paul Stirling (19 off 12) and Jason Roy (10) had made a bright start, reaching 30 in the first three overs. But then the wickets started tumbling and he was forced to consolidate before launching a valiant attack at the death to keep Paarl in the competition with four fours and five sixes.
Eoin Morgan, the former England captain, was the only other batsman to provide much support, scoring 24 off 12 balls.
The Pretoria Capitals’ attack was destroyed by Durban’s Super Giants (whom they now avoid in the semis) in the previous match, but Anrich Nortje and Rashid returned to the attack on Tuesday and showed what a difference it made.
Read more: Why Capitals, Super Kings will change backdrop to SA20 semi-finals
Nortje led the attack with impressive figures of 1/14 in four overs and Rashid took 2/18 in three overs. Seamers Migael Pretorius (3-0-21-2) and Eathan Bosch (4-0-31-1) provided good support.
You will give me money
After being sent into bat, Pretoria openers Phil Salt (39 off 21) and Kusal Mendis sent him flying down the lane in lightning fashion against some wayward bowling, scoring 69 off just 34 balls.
Mendis, who dared to play a terrific stroke, smashed for 17Th over to pummel 80 from 41 deliveries, and Colin Ingram, one of the elders in the T20 circuit, finished the innings in style, his 41 from 21 took home to 226/5.
The same two teams will contest Wednesday’s semi-final at Wanderers.