CENTURION: Paarl Royals managed to advance into the SA20 semifinal with a very thin margin despite facing a 59-run defeat at the hands of Pretoria Capitals in what became a dress rehearsal match on Tuesday.
The two teams will now face each other for the second time in 24 hours – in the first semifinal of the tournament today.
In the final league game, Preotia Capitals raised a mammoth 226/5 in the 20 overs after they were put into the bat, before leaving the Royals stranded on 167/9 during the chase.
Kusal Mendis hit an astounding knock of 80 from 41 balls, laced with eight fours and four maximums while James Neesham played a sweet cameo of 11-ball 22 to put Capitals in command in the first half of the match.
Neesham then shifted his momentum into the field as well and led the bowling charge as he picked up three wickets for 28 runs in his two overs.
With 163 required to make their way into the semifinals, Royals were more concerned about reaching that figure during the chase rather than the massive 227-run target.
Buttler put up a valiant fightback to keep the Royals in the qualification zone the as he raised 70 from 45 balls but received little support from the rest of his teammates. Eoin Morgan held on for while but once the former England captain and subsequently Paarl’s skipper David Miller fell, their chances to win the game had already been crushed.
Neesham was introduced late into the attack, yet managed two back-to-back wickets in the 16th over, dismissing Andile Phehlukwayo and Evan Jones, before perishing Buttler in the 19th.
Adil Rashid and Migael Pretorious also scalped two wickets each to put Pretoria Capitals on the right trajectory.
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