Paarl Royals have made history with a perfect home record at Boland Park, completing a 100% win rate across five home games in the league phase of the Betway SA20. This achievement is the first of its kind, surpassing the previous best of four victories and one washout by Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers in Season 1. On Monday evening, the Royals secured a thrilling six-wicket victory over Durban’s Super Giants, who are now eliminated from playoff contention. As last season’s runners-up, DSG’s exit marks a surprising end to their campaign.
The Royals’ dominance was fueled by South Africa’s rising stars, Luhan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka, who played key roles in maintaining the team’s grip on the top spot of the points table. The Royals now have 28 points. Maphaka delivered a standout performance with figures of 2/22, helping to restrict DSG to a modest total of 143/7. Pretorius then took charge with the bat, scoring 43 off 29 balls, including five fours and one six, to finish as the top run-scorer for the Royals and become the first player to surpass the 300-run mark in Season 3.
Despite losing his opening partner, Joe Root, who was dismissed for a duck, Pretorius continued his stellar run. Young talent Rubin Hermann also impressed with a well-crafted 59 off 51 balls, showcasing innovation against the spinners with sweeping and reverse-sweeping shots.
With the chase nearing its conclusion, allrounder Dayyaan Galiem sealed the victory with a dramatic six off the second-last ball, taking the Royals over the line with just two balls to spare. The Royals, who had experimented with a spin-heavy bowling attack in their previous match, made a strategic change, bringing back Galiem and Maphaka to the starting XI. Maphaka’s early breakthroughs were crucial, including a brilliant delivery that sent Brandon King’s stumps flying and a clever slower ball that bamboozled Heinrich Klaasen.
For DSG, despite a valiant 55 not out from Marcus Stoinis and a solid 45 from Kane Williamson, the Super Giants could not post a total big enough to challenge the Royals. Stoinis, in particular, was aggressive against Root, smashing 24 runs off 11 balls, including two sixes. However, the Royals’ all-round performance proved too much for DSG to overcome.
The Royals’ main concern now will be the fitness of captain David Miller, who left the field during DSG’s innings and did not bat in the chase. Despite this, the Royals remain in full control as they march forward in the competition.
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