Paarl Royals Create History, Become First SA20 Team To THIS Incredible Record (Photo credit: SA20)
David Miller’s Paarl Royals, of which India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik is a part, on Monday created history by becoming the first SA20 team to register a 100% home record at Boland Park. In what was a thrilling encounter with six runs required off the last over, Dayyan Galiem and Mitchell van Buuren held their nerves to pull off the win.
This is the first time any SA20 side has gone unbeaten at home throughout the league phase of the tournament with the previous best being Joburg Super Kings’ four victories and one washout at the Wanderers in the 2023 edition of the tournament.
The Super Giants, led by Keshav Maharaj, have now been eliminated as they can no longer qualify for the playoffs, with just one win from nine matches.
“Five from five at home, been fantastic support from fans. The local fans really do get behind us. Nice achievement, the guys have been phenomenal, sticking to their plans. Right groin feels a bit tight. So good to see the youngsters coming through,” Miller said at the post-match presentation.
The cream of South Africa’s young talent Luhan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka played a crucial role in the Royals maintaining their stranglehold on top of the SA20 points table. They have now qualified for the knockouts with seven wins from eight matches, with a solitary loss against MI Cape Town in their second game.
Dre-Pretorius and Maphaka did the double act with the latter delivering his best performance of SA20 till now with fine figures of 2/22 to restrict the Super Giants to 143/7 before Pretorius clubbed 43 off 29 deliveries (5x4s, 1×6) in the successful run-chase.
Pretorius reclaimed the top run-scorer position from his fellow opener Joe Root, who was trapped LBW off the first delivery of the innings on Monday, by becoming the first batter to pass the 300-run mark in the ongoing season.
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