Rubin Hermann scored a half-century for the Paarl Royals as they chased down Durban’s Super Giants’ 143/7 in a nail-biting encounter, winning their SA20 encounter at Boland Park by six wickets with a ball to spare. | Sportzpics
The Paarl Royals continued to flex their muscle on Monday, as they dispatched the Durban Super Giants by six wickets in their SA20 clash at Boland Park.
The result dashed any hopes the visitors had of qualifying for the next round, as the Royals tightened the screws on their position at the top of the log with 28 points, ending their home run with a perfect winning record.
Chasing 144 runs to win, the Cape side lost the in-form Joe Root for a golden duck. In what was supposed to be a challenging chase, the home side, through Lhuan-dre Pretorius (43 off 29) and Rubin Hermann (59 off 51, 4x4, 2x6), turned it into a walk in the park.
The pair put on a match-winning partnership of 91, with Pretorius making a return to the top of the run-scoring charts (301 runs) with his useful knock, which also included five fours and one six.
Earlier, needing to make a play, the Super Giants rang the changes, including that of Quinton de Kock moving back to open the batting. His stay was cut short as he was bowled by Bjorn Fortuin for a three-ball duck.
Kwena Maphaka (2/22) was entrusted with the new ball and set a trap for Brandon King with a well-timed short ball. The follow-up delivery broke through the Jamaican’s defences, and the Super Giants were stunned with two key batters back in the pavilion inside the powerplay.
Kane Williamson has been impressive in his first season with the KwaZulu-Natal side, and his partnership of 53 with Marcus Stoinis turned the tide, restoring some order before he fell to Fortuin (2/20), bowled for a solid 45 off 36 balls, which included five fours and one six.
Outside the toss, the Royals didn’t put a foot wrong, but the concern would have been the loss of captain David Miller during their bowling innings. He walked off in discomfort and didn’t come out to bat later in the match.
The Super Giants also limped to a competitive total of 143/7, thanks to a late charge by Stoinis (55 off 40, 5x4, 2x6). With their chances in the competition teetering on the edge, they needed at least a bonus point win to keep their hopes alive.
It wasn’t to be, though, as the Royals survived a late scare that saw them reach their target with one ball to spare, ending any chances the Durban-based side had of qualifying for the next round.