Paarl (South Africa), Jan 25 England legend Joe Root struck a masterful 78 not out and claimed two wickets to steer the Paarl Royals into the SA20 playoffs at a fiercely hot Boland Park here on Saturday. Royals became the first team in Season 3 to qualify for the next stage of the competition after their 11-run victory over Pretoria Capitals. The Royals top the standings with 24 points.
Root showed off all experience and class to navigate a slow Boland Park surface in the searing midday sun. The former English skipper was the epitome of orthodoxy as he drove beautifully down the ground, but also showed that he had the ability to innovate with a majestic switch hit off Will Jacks.
The rest of the Royals batting-order wilted under the Paarl sun before captain David Miller walked to the crease. Miller immediately injected some impetus into the innings with an unbeaten 29 from 18 balls, which included two mighty slog-sweeps for six. It formed part of a 33-ball unbroken 59-run partnership that lifted the Royals to 140/4.
"The most important thing is to read the surface and figure out the score you need. Today was a case of being brave enough to take it deeper and you might have a better match-up down the line. Thought we did that pretty well,” Player of the Match Root said.
The Capitals’ run-chase stalled from the outset as the Royals' five-man spin attack of Bjorn Fortuin, Dunith Wellalage, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nqaba Peter, and Root spun their web.
It was the first time in the history of Betway SA20 that one team bowled all 20 overs utilising only spin bowlers. Fortuin (2-20) and Wellalage struck in the Powerplay to reduce the Capitals to 23/3. However, Jacks took a page out of fellow Englishman Root’s book by stabilising the Capitals’ innings with a solid 56 off 53 balls. Jacks and Kyle Verreynne (30 off 33 balls) compiled a 77-run partnership of 67 balls to bring the visitors back into the contest, but ultimately they could not deny the Royals on this sweltering day.
Mujeeb picked up the big wicket of Verreynne before Root closed out the job he had started with the bat by picking up two wickets at the death.
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