The Paarl Royals showcased the advantage of home conditions to get their Betway SA20 campaign back on track with a bonus point seven-wicket victory over the Joburg Super Kings at Boland Park.
After losing their opening match to MI Cape Town at Newlands earlier this week, the Royals treated their home crowd to a bowling exhibition in the searing Winelands heat.
Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin was exceptional with the new ball in the Powerplay as his 3/16 helped dismiss the Super Kings for just 81. It was the lowest score of the Betway SA20 thus far.
Fortuin removed both openers Janneman Malan (2) and Reeza Hendricks (4), while also dismissing Lewis Gregory (2).
The Super Kings absorbed a poor start in their victory over Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead, but on this occasion Donovan Ferreira could not rescue the Joburg team as he also fell for just six.
Ferreira was one of three Evan Jones’ victims as the Royals all-rounder continued Fortuin’s good work from earlier in the innings. Jones finished with career-best T20 figures of 3/21 from 2.2 overs.
Ferisco Adams also chipped in with 2/14, while Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi showed no signs of jet lag with an impressive opening spell 1/13 from his four overs. He also claimed the important wicket of Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis.
The Royals had little trouble in chasing down the below-par score as they cruised home with 9.3 overs to spare. England’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler ensured there would be no reason to panic despite the loss of Jason Roy (12) and Wihan Lubbe (19).
Buttler finished unbeaten on 29 not out (21 balls, 4×4) as the Royals picked up their first points of the competition.
The Joburg Super Kings do not have much time to rectify their mistakes as they travel down the N1 to face MI Cape Town at Newlands on Saturday.
