Paarl Royals Create Unique Record, Become First Team To...
Bjorn Fortuin, Dunith Wellalage, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Joe Root bowled four overs each for Paarl Royals on Saturday in the SA20 match played against Pretoria Capitals.
Paarl Royals created history on Saturday, January 25, by becoming the first-ever team in franchise cricket to bowl 20 overs of spin. The SA20 side achieved the feat during the seventh league stage match of the ongoing season played against Pretoria Capitals at Boland Park in Paarl. Bjorn Fortuin, Dunith Wellalage, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Joe Root bowled four overs each and conceded 20, 16, 17, 33, and 32 runs, respectively, to help the David Miller-led side successfully defend the total of 140 runs and win the match by 11 runs. The sixth win in seven matches played so far has strengthened Paarl’s grip at the top of the league table.
Dayyaan Galiem, who is a fast-bowling all-rounder, was part of Paarl’s playing XI on Saturday, but he was not needed as spinners sealed the deal for the home team. Fortuin, Mujeeb, and Root picked up two wickets each for the table toppers, and one Pretoria batter was sent back to the pavilion by Sri Lankan all-rounder Wellalage.
related stories
For his superb show in the match, which also includes a 78-run knock from 56 balls in addition to two wickets, Root won the Player of the Match award. The right-handed English batter has been in red-hot form these days, and with the help of three half-centuries, he has scored 279 runs in seven matches played so far. Root’s total of 279 runs is the most by any player in the ongoing season of SA20.
Paarl Royals will next face Durban Super Giants in their eighth league stage match of the SA20 2025. The match between the two teams is scheduled to take place at Boland Park on Monday, January 27. DSG suffered a humiliating defeat by 7 wickets against MI Cape Town in the last match played at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Keshav Maharaj-led side rode on half-centuries from Kane Williamson and Heinrich Klaasen to post a total of 149 runs on the board, but it doesn’t prove to be enough. Wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton hammered 63 runs from 41 balls to set the tone for the hosts, and they chased down the target of 150 runs in 14.5 overs for the loss of three wickets.
- Location :
- First Published: