END OF OVER:
20 | 15 Runs 1 Wkt | PC: 133/7 (28 runs required, RR: 6.65)

  • Eathan Bosch16 (19b)
  • Andile Phehlukwayo4-0-29-2
  • Lungi Ngidi4-0-23-1

9:25pm Right. That is it from us for this game. Thank you for tuning in, and do join us tomorrow too. A double-header is in store, with MI Cape Town taking on Joburg Super Kings in the afternoon before the Sunrisers Eastern Cape clash with Durban's Super Giants. Until then, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat) and Chandan. Take care!

David Miller, Paarl Royals captain: It was a bit tight after the powerplay we had. The guys bowled really well nonetheless. A couple of edgy shots put us under pressure. The guys executed beautifully and it was a great finish. Really pleasing. (On their bowling unit) We have bolstered our bowling this year and we have a really good attack, confident of defending most scores. It is difficult to come in here and score from ball one, until it is in the powerplay. Anything 150-160 is a good score (here). This competition has grown from strength to strength, and it is nice to feel the buzz and the energy from the crowd. We always really enjoy that and appreciate it.

James Neesham, Pretoria Capitals captain: (On the pitch) Not an ideal surface but you cannot have belters every game. We did well to restrict them, thought it was a par score. They bowled brilliantly, especially in the middle and it was tough for new batters to get going. (On the Royals' attack) They picked a team that suits their home ground, so you expect them to bowl well. Lungi and the other guys bowled extremely well. (On the learnings from this game) You don't take too much out of a game like this. The surface will be different and we have a line-up that is suited to our surface. We have experience and it is a case of dusting ourselves off and getting ready for the next one. (On the preparation before today's game) We came out here yesterday, and the practice wickets were very similar. No excuses (as far as preparation is concerned). Nothing new coming up on a surface like this. Don't think it was a terrible surface. We are professionals and it is about adapting to each surface.

Andile Phehlukwayo is the Player of the Match, here is what he has to say: It was good, being out in the park, having not played in a while. Being out there was a bit emotional for me. The wicket was quite tough in the beginning. The partnership between David and Mitch was very important. When you are starting to get momentum and then a niggle happens, it is quite difficult. I have tried to work hard on my game, improve every single day and lucky enough to put up this performance for the team.

9:06pm A fairly comfortable win in the end for the Royals. They bowled clinically and even when they went for a few in the powerplay, they held their nerve. Phehlukwayo broke the Salt-Rossouw partnership, and that triggered a slide, with Salt perishing to Shamsi soon after. The Capitals just could not recover thereafter, and even though Neesham found the fence thrice in the final over, it was too late by then.

Speaking of Neesham, he will not be too best pleased with the way he or the rest of the batters batted. They were strangled by the spinners and by the pacers' change of pace, which undid the rollicking start they got. The Capitals will have to figure out a mechanism to tackle such conditions, given teams might now look to target them with spin.

19.6
W
Phehlukwayo to Neesham, OUT, taken at deep mid wicket, and the Paarl Royals win by 27 runs! Slower ball on a shortish length outside off. Neesham thinks he can reduce the margin of defeat further and has a swipe across the line. Gets decent contact but not enough to clear the fielder. A clinical bowling display, and the Royals have their first win of the season!

JDS Neesham c Allen b Phehlukwayo 21 (31m 18b 3x4 0x6) SR: 116.66

19.5
1
Phehlukwayo to E Bosch, 1 run, full outside off again. Bosch lays back in his crease and mows it towards long on
19.5
1w
Phehlukwayo to E Bosch, 1 wide, full and wide outside off. Too wide, in fact. Beyond the tramlines and some exercise for the umpire
19.4
1
Phehlukwayo to Neesham, 1 run, back of a length just outside off. Neesham goes deep into his crease and works it towards deep mid wicket
19.3
4
Phehlukwayo to Neesham, FOUR, three fours in a row! In the slot outside off. Neesham holds his shape nicely and pumps it over the bowler's head for another boundary!
19.2
4
Phehlukwayo to Neesham, FOUR, four more! Another slower ball on a back of a length outside off. Neesham lines it up and thrashes it to long off's left!
19.1
4
Phehlukwayo to Neesham, FOUR, slower delivery that sits up to be hit outside off. Neesham winds up and bangs it over the bowler's head. Long on, running to his right, had no chance!

END OF OVER:
19 | 3 Runs | PC: 118/6 (43 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.21, RRR: 43.00)

  • Eathan Bosch15 (18b)
  • James Neesham8 (13b)
  • Lungi Ngidi4-0-23-1
  • Obed McCoy4-0-26-1
18.6
0
Ngidi to E Bosch, no run, back of a length just outside off. Fizzes off the surface and flashes past Bosch's blade as he looks for the pull
18.5
1
Ngidi to Neesham, 1 run, slower ball bowled quite full outside off. Neesham hacks it off the inside half of the bat towards long on
18.4
0
Ngidi to Neesham, no run, changes it up with a quick bouncer outside off. Neesham has another fresh-air shot
18.3
2
Ngidi to Neesham, 2 runs, slower ball on a length well outside off. Neesham drags it down to long on. Gets back for two, although the time for these doubles has possibly passed the Capitals by
18.2
0
Ngidi to Neesham, no run, full outside off. Neesham has a wild yahoo across the line and drags it towards square leg
18.1
0
Ngidi to Neesham, no run, full and wide outside off. Neesham continues swinging agriculturally and gets an inside edge that Buttler somehow reins in again

END OF OVER:
18 | 8 Runs | PC: 115/6 (46 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.38, RRR: 23.00)

  • Eathan Bosch15 (17b)
  • James Neesham5 (8b)
  • Obed McCoy4-0-26-1
  • Andile Phehlukwayo3-0-14-1
17.6
0
McCoy to E Bosch, no run, cutter bowled into the track outside off. Bosch leaves it alone, hoping for the wide but gets no favours
17.5
4
McCoy to E Bosch, FOUR, the Capitals finally get a boundary! Length outside off. Bosch picks the slower one and smears it between deep mid wicket and long on!

50 off 14 now

17.4
1
McCoy to Neesham, 1 run, back of a length on leg stump. Neesham gets inside the line and helps it towards deep backward square leg

Neesham back on strike. The Capitals could do with a boundary here

17.3
1
McCoy to E Bosch, 1 run, full just outside off. Bosch gets down on one knee and tries the sweep because nothing else is coming off. No contact with bat and the ball rolls off the pads into the on side

The last boundary was scored off the fourth ball of the ninth over

17.2
2
McCoy to E Bosch, 2 runs, full toss outside off and the Capitals find themselves in such a rut that even this finds the fielder on the deep extra cover fence
17.1
0
McCoy to E Bosch, no run, banged into the track on leg stump. Whistles through and Bosch, shaping for the pull, is beaten for pace

McCoy to bowl out

END OF OVER:
17 | 3 Runs | PC: 107/6 (54 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.29, RRR: 18.00)

  • Eathan Bosch8 (12b)
  • James Neesham4 (7b)
  • Andile Phehlukwayo3-0-14-1
  • Lungi Ngidi3-0-20-1
16.6
1
Phehlukwayo to E Bosch, 1 run, slow and short outside off. Bosch gives it everything he has but can only drill it straight to long off
16.5
0
Phehlukwayo to E Bosch, no run, dug into the track outside off. Bosch continues swinging like a rusty gate and clinks it off the toe-end. Buttler flings out his right mitt and collects cleanly on the bounce
16.4
0
Phehlukwayo to E Bosch, no run, another cutter on a length outside off. Bosch aims for the moon but misses the ball altogether
16.3
0
Phehlukwayo to E Bosch, no run, back of a length outside off. Sticks in the surface again as Bosch scuffs it back to the bowler

SA20 News

Capitals 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st18PD SaltWG Jacks
2nd21TB de BruynPD Salt
3rd39RR RossouwPD Salt
4th6CA IngramPD Salt
5th9CA IngramC Bosch
6th3CA IngramJDS Neesham
7th37JDS NeeshamE Bosch