In a heart-stopping finish at Boland Park, Paarl Royals managed to hold their nerve and clinch a dramatic one-run victory over MI Cape Town in the SA20 league on Wednesday, January 3. The win extended MI Cape Town's winless streak in the tournament.
Pretorius' Blistering Knock Sets Up Royals
The foundation of the Royals' win was laid by a spectacular innings from young wicketkeeper-batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius. He was in sublime touch, hammering an unbeaten 98 runs off just 65 deliveries. His knock, studded with 10 fours and a six, was agonisingly short of a well-deserved century. He forged a dominant 100-run opening partnership with Asa Tribe, who contributed a brisk 51 off 34 balls. This propelled the Paarl Royals to a formidable total of 181 for three in their 20 overs. MI Cape Town's captain, Rashid Khan, was the most effective bowler, taking two wickets for 31 runs.
MI Cape Town's Chase Falters After Strong Start
In response, MI Cape Town's chase began on a powerful note. Openers Ryan Rickelton (36) and Rassie van der Dussen (59 off 42 balls) provided a robust start, adding 77 runs in less than eight overs. However, the innings derailed spectacularly once the partnership was broken. The middle order collapsed under pressure, with Sikandar Raza being the chief destroyer for the Royals. The Zimbabwean all-rounder took three crucial wickets, including those of Rickelton, Nicholas Pooran (12), and Tom Moores (0), to leave MI Cape Town reeling at 118 for six by the 15th over.
Rashid Khan's Heroics Fall Just Short
Just when the game seemed lost, MI Cape Town skipper Rashid Khan launched a stunning counter-attack. He blazed his way to 35 runs off a mere 18 balls, smashing two fours and three sixes. Along with George Linde (20*), he added 51 runs for the seventh wicket, reviving hopes of an improbable win. The equation came down to 15 runs required from the final over, bowled by Ottneil Baartman. The over saw the dismissals of both Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada, with Baartman finishing with four wickets. Needing seven from the last two balls, MI Cape Town could only manage a single and a four, finishing agonisingly at 180 for eight, just one run short of the target.
The victory was a crucial one for the Paarl Royals, built on Pretorius' batting masterclass and a collective bowling effort in the crunch moments, while MI Cape Town was left to rue a middle-order collapse in a chase they should have sealed.
