By Neil Manthorp.
@SA20.
David Miller top-scored for the Paarl Royals and displayed brilliant captaincy skills to lead the home side to a competitive total of 160-7 and victory by 27-runs in their Betway SA20 match against the Pretoria Capitals at Boland Park in Paarl on Friday.
Captain Miller struck just four fours and no sixes in his 41 from 33 balls on a pitch offering little to encourage attacking stroke play before marshalling his team with prescient bowling changes to restrict the visitors to 133-7 in reply.
Philip Salt (39 from 31 balls) gave the Capitals a flying start to give the visitors false hope and Rilee Rossouw belted 29 from 18 balls with a four and two, rare sixes but both were undone by the lack of pace and bountiful spin on offer.
Englishman Salt was trapped lbw by Tabraiz Shamsi having belted three fours and two sixes while Rossouw heaved a slower, short ball from Andile Phehlukwayo to deep square leg.
Thereafter the Capitals batsmen were like sprinters in beach sand, unable to accelerate despite their greatest efforts. The more they tried to force the pace, the more likely they were to mistime and miscue an attacking shot to a fielder.
Earlier a promising opening stand of 42 in under five overs, having been asked to bat first, promised a slightly higher total for the Royals but three wickets in 15 balls forced the home side to rebuild.
Jason Roy spanked three fours and straight six in 23 from 16 balls before dragging a wide yorker from Capitals captain, Jimmy Neesham, onto his stumps. Fellow Englishman, Jos Buttler, struggled to 14 from 16 balls before splicing a pull against seamer Daryn Dupavillon to mid wicket.
Wihan Lubbe pulled a long-hop from offspinner Will Jacks for six but perished to a catch at long on by Senuran Muthusamy attempting a repeat shot against a much fuller delivery.
Mitchell van Buuren (28 from 21 balls) contributed a six and a four to a much-needed stand of 61 with Miller until a clever slower ball from Eathan Bosch persuaded him to slog-sweep to Muthusamy, again, at deep mid-wicket.
Miller’s responsible innings was ended by a good yorker from Corbin Bosch (2-35) but it was fellow seamer, Dupavillon, who shone in the evening sun with the wickets of Buttler and West Indian Fabian Allen, also splicing a bouncer to cover, for figures of 2-29 from his four overs.
Englishman Jacks, too, was impressive with figures of 3-0-19-1 while countryman Adil Rashid conceded 33 runs from his four, wicketless overs.
The victory was sweet enough for the Royals but the presence of a sell-out crowd, in good voice and cheer, was even more evidence that a joyous tournament lies ahead – especially at home.
Paarl Royals: Jos Buttler (wkt), Jason Roy, Wihan Lubbe, David Miller (captain), Mitchell Van Buuren, Andile Phehlukwayo, Fabian Allen, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Obed McCoy
Pretoria Capitals: Phil Salt (wkt), Will Jacks, Theunis de Bruyn, Rilee Rossouw, Colin Ingram, Jimmy Neesham (captain), Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Eathan Bosch, Adil Rashid, Daryn Dupavillon.