END OF OVER:20 | 3 Runs | PC: 200/7 (11 runs required, RR: 10.00)
- Hardus Viljoen10 (10b)
- Eathan Bosch3 (6b)
- Obed McCoy4-0-30-1
- Andile Phehlukwayo4-0-41-1
7:45pm Right. That will be that from us for today. A proper nail-biter to cap off a stunning start to the SA20. There is more action lined up tomorrow, with Durban's Super Giants taking on the Joburg Super Kings. Do join us for that game too. Until then, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat), Raghav and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care!
David Miller, Paarl Royals captain: We got a good score on the board. Two wickets early and then leaking runs in the powerplay - that kind of let us down. The guys really put in a big shift towards the end. (On the pitch) I think it did seem a touch on the slower side. Normally it kicks through with some good carry and bounce. Was a little slow to start with but probably got better. The guys had nice plans at the end and executed it nicely. (On the last-over drama) I am very happy we took that review just to get that little breather (for Obed McCoy). Nice experience in the camp, with Jos Buttler around, nice to bounce a few things off him. I was just really praying Obed finished his over there because we were under the pump. Very happy (winning two out of two, home and away).
James Neesham, Pretoria Capitals captain: I want to thank the Pretoria crowd for coming out today, hopefully they can support us for the rest of the season. (On the pitch) Tough wicket to bowl on, runs galore. If you have a player of David Miller's quality batting through, it is tough. We felt it was slightly above par but chaseable. Whenever you are chasing 10-12 runs per over, you need a bit of luck and for the aggression to come off. Those risks would have come off on another day. We want to be aggressive throughout the competition and on another day, we come out with a win. (On losing two out of two at the start) The winners of the tournament went 0 out of 2 last season. We played good cricket today. There is no way you can guarantee runs and wickets in cricket. It is about staying relaxed and continue brushing up on the areas where we looked rusty.
Lungi Ngidi, Player of the Match: The batters did very well to set that game up for us. When we came out to bowl, I kind of knew the areas I needed to hit. It was a bit nerve-racking when that partnership (between Jacks and Rossouw) was going. Our plan was to stay calm and stick to our plans and it worked out in the end. Having Shane Bond as a coach has given me the freedom to express myself. Some people say I bowl too many slower balls but if it is working, I keep bowling it. Then, you throw in a quick one to keep everyone guessing. I am a Paarl boy right now, that is the team I am playing for and I will do everything to get them a trophy (smiles).
Sunitha : "Who thought that the Royals will win going into the last 5 overs. Funny , unpredictable game"
7:25pm Phew. What a game. It had twists and turns throughout, and in the end, the Royals held their nerve just enough. McCoy bowled one of the better last overs you will see at this SA20, and even though the batting was not great, McCoy's ability to keep changing this up, with so much at stake, was commendable.
Don't forget what Phehlukwayo did either. He bowled an eight-run penultimate over, and that piled on the pressure on the Capitals. It was, in many ways, a continuation of what they did in the final five overs. They had 53 in the bank, and ultimately won by 10 runs, illustrating how good they were.
As for the Capitals, well, they will feel they have missed out on a win. When Jacks and Rossouw were going, it felt they would do it with over(s) to spare. Their dismissals, close to each other, threw a spoke in their wheel, and they just could not recover. Neesham was the only one to hit the ball cleanly apart from Jacks and Rossouw, and once he fell - in the 17th over to Phehlukwayo - the Capitals' chase flagged.
Two legal balls and the Royals will be home
Some more running repairs for McCoy. 14 off 3. This is the Royals' game to lose now
We have a review ongoing for an lbw. Darted in full on off stump, after seeing Viljoen walk across and advance. He plays all over it and gets rapped on the pads. Looked straight enough but the question is whether this struck Viljoen in line. Buttler did look very confident.
14 off 4