The locals streamed through the turnstiles for the Pretoria Capitals first home match of season two of the SAT20 league in anticipation of their team claiming their first victory of the competition. Unfortunately, it was not to be with the Royals doing ‘the double’ over the Capitals with the visitors clinching a tense 10-run victory thanks to the hostile bowling from Lungi Ngidi and an heroic last over from West Indian Obed Mccoy. The Royals were also victorious on Friday evening at Boland Park against the same opposition by 27 runs.
Pretoria Capitals and Paarl Royals served up a thrilling SA20 run-fest at a sold-out Centurion on Sunday, with David Miller, Mitchell Van Buuren Rilee Rossouw and Will Jacks scoring big. The match which had 410 runs scored across the course of the match once again proved that T20 high scoring games often produces a thriller of a contest between bat and ball.
Pitch Condition and Teams
The Centurion pitch showcased a wicket which was a perfect batting strip with conditions perfect for the team batting first to put on big total on a ground who had side boundaries a slighter shorter in excess of 55 to 60 mts . This small sized boundaries with both teams having excellent and prolific English and South African international batters in their services a perfect chance to pile up the mountain of runs in excess of 200.
With the pitch suiting the batters, Royals went unchanged with the winning combination from the first match while Pretoria Capitals who won the toss and chose to bowl made one change having pacer all rounder Hardus Viljoen replaced in place of spinner Senuran Muthusamy.
Faltered start but Jos Buttler’s brisk innings steadies the ship
Put in to bat, Royals lost Jason Roy being caught by Will Jacks at cover point in the second over of Daryn Dupavillion . However, Jos Buttler and Wihan Lubbe continued the attack with Buttler taking the aggressor route as they smacked 17 runs of the fourth over of the innings bowled by Ethan Bosch and Buttler being severe in the next over against Dupavillion smacking him four consecutive boundaries to score 18 runs of the 5th over.
James Neesham soon saw the back of Wihan Lubbe soon Royals score stood an impressive 52 for 2 in the powerplay with Buttler having scored 34 runs of 17 balls with an impressive strike rate of 200.In company of Captain David Miller, Buttler post the powerplay took the Royals score to 69 till the strategic time out at 8th over after which English counterpart spinner Adil Rashid immediately got the wicket of Buttler for 39 runs post break time to have Royals reeling at 69 for 3 and Miller and Mitchell Van Burren at the crease .
The Miller & Mitchell Show
After a couple of overs of watchful play, Miller broke free, smashing James Neesham for three boundaries in four balls. Van Buuren, who had started to cut loose, took the attack to Daryn Dupavillion, slapping a boundary and a six in the 14th over. Two overs later, he meted out a similar treatment to Corbin Bosch and soon brought up his half-century, an over after Miller reached the landmark. The southpaw smashed three sixes in the last over off Bosch to help his side to a high total.
Skipper Miller and Mitchell Van Buuren, who went on to build the most defining partnership for the Royals. Their 141 run stand featured their respective, unbeaten half-centuries that propelled the side to their highest ever SAT20 total, a staggering 210/3 in 20 overs. As many as 21 boundaries were scored between the two batters, who were leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the Royals finished on a high.
Miller finished with unbeaten on 75 of 42 balls inclusive of 8 fours and 3 sixes and Mitchell Van Burren with impressive 72 of 40 balls which comprised of 7 fours and 3 sixes propelled Royals to a huge total against Pretoria Capitals who now had to face the Royals bowling in order to chase down the score in excess of 200 for their first points of the tournament.
Lungi Ngidi’s Thunderous first over but Russow and Will Jacks epic comeback
Having to chase 210 runs for their first victory in the competition, Pretoria Capitals were dependent on their classy and in form England opener Phil Salt to give them a rollicking start in the powerplay. However they were in for a rude shock when homeboy Lungi Ngidi bowled a magical first over of fast bowling that saw him pluck two quick wickets in the first over itself . Reeling at 4/2, they were now without Phil Salt and Theunis de Bruyn.
However swashbuckling batter Rilee Russow and England batter Will Jacks decided to turn the tide with their immaculate batting taking risks at will in pursuit of the chase and propelled Capitals to 151 runs in 13.5 which was almost a match winning partnership of 147 runs a record at Centurion for any wicket eclipsing the previous best of 141 runs between Miller and Mitchell Van Buuren in the same match until Rilee Russow who scored a fantastic 82 of 45 balls was dismissed by Ngidi to a stunner taken by Jason Roy on the boundary line.
Rilee Russow who scored a brilliant 82 of 45 balls studded 10 boundaries and 4 sixes while Will Jacks who was an able partner at the end scored a valiant 58 of 34 balls inclusive of 6 fours and 3 sixes . However David Miller’s experience and astute leadership came to fore when he bought in the in form bowler in form of Lungi Ngidi in pursuit of restricting the opposition in an over which turned out too be a turning point of the match.
Lungi Ngidi brings the Gees, Obed McCoy the win
Lungi Ngidi set the tone upfront with two wickets in the first over of the Capitals’ run chase when he removed both Phil Salt (0) and Theunis de Bruyn (4) before returning at the death to claim a further two wickets to finish with figures of 4/39.But it was West Indies international Obed McCoy (1/30) who showed his immense value by holding his nerve during a frenetic final over. McCoy was tasked with defending just 14 runs off the last six deliveries.
But that was only the beginning of the drama, with McCoy suffering from severe cramps, which required assistance from the Royals medical team after each delivery. The left-armer showed great character to close out the over as he delivered a mixture of slower balls and cutters that deceived Capitals tailender Hardus Viljoen (10*) bowling 4 dot balls in tandem inspite of suffering from cramps to give Royals their second win over Capitals within a span of 2 days this time by 10 runs.
Captains views and Road Ahead
Losing Captain James Neesham exclaimed :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.
Winning captain David Miller said :
“Good score on the board and getting a couple of wickets at the start and then leaking was disappointing but that’s the nature of this wicket. Overall we had a good game. It (pitch) was a touch on the slower side. Normally it flies through. We had a clear plan at the back end and executed well. I am very happy we took that review to give us a two-minute breather (in the final over to discuss strategy and also help McCoy with stretching,)”
With Buttler there bounce a few things off him and listen to what he has to say at that moment. I was hoping McCoy finishes the over. We wanted to take it as deep as possible but strike as well. Getting two results home and away is what we asked for, very happy.
Lungi Ngidi the local boy for his impressive figures of 4 for 39 was given the Player of the match and he said :
“The batters did very well to set that game up for us. I know the areas I need to hit here. Was a bit of nerve-wracking when Rilee and Jacks were going. The result worked in our favour. Having Shane Bond as the coach has given me the freedom, Lot of people might think I’m bowling too many slower balls but he said if it’s working keep them going. I am a Paarl boy right now, that’s the team I play for. I am going to do everything to help them get the trophy. Unfortunately, this (performance) came at my home ground but I’m very happy for the team,”
Great commitment from McCoy to deliver a brilliant final over despite struggling with what looked like cramps. How did the Capitals lose this? This was their game. The base was set. They had a foot on the door, but 3 wickets for 12 runs with both set batters walking back was a body blow.
And that collapse was started by Ngidi, thanks a stunning catch with great presence of mind from Roy close to the rope. Then Fortuin who bowled tight got rid of Jacks and the Capitals slipped there. Neesham looked determined to take his team over the line but the Royals held their nerve towards the end as they bowled 7 dots in the last 2 overs to win by 10 runs.
With two wins in two games and 8 points, the Royals are tied at the top alongside Durban’s Super Giants. After a short break, the team will return home to take on their next opponent, the Johannesburg Super Kings on Wednesday, January 17,while Pretoria Capitals who is yet to open their account next takes on toppers Durban Super Giants on the 18th of January.