Paarl Royals captain David Miller spoiled Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s New Year’s celebrations with a captain’s knock that earned his team their first win of SA20 Season 4 at St George’s Park on Tuesday.Chasing a modest target of 150, the Royals found themselves in big trouble from the start as Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje snatched the top spot. Jansen achieved a milestone during the spell, becoming the first bowler to take 50 wickets in SA20 history. Paarl slipped to 35 for four, with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Asa Tribe, Rubin Hermann and Kyle Verreynne all dismissed cheaply.
As the chase threatened to collapse, Miller produced a masterclass in calmness and controlled aggression. The southpaw anchored the innings with an unbeaten 71 off just 38 balls, timing his acceleration to perfection. He found a reliable partner in rising star Keagan Lion-Cachet, who played a crucial supporting role with 45 off 40 deliveries.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!The pair formed a decisive partnership of 114 runs for the fifth wicket, gradually draining the pressure from the Sunrisers. Lion-Cachet fell late in the chase, but Miller made sure there were no further problems.The drama continued until the final moments, with the St George’s Park crowd hoping for a Super Over. Those hopes were dashed when Lewis Gregory drilled a costly shot wide, sealing victory for the Royals with two balls to spare.Earlier, Paarl’s bowlers had laid the platform, led by teenage sensation Nqobani Mokoena. In his second SA20 appearance, the 19-year-old seamer made career-best figures of 4/34, including the prized wicket of Quinton de Kock during the Powerplay. Ottneil Baartman complemented him well, returning figures of 3/36 against his former team.
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Who was the most notable player in the match between Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape?
Jonny Bairstow (33) and Jordan Hermann (47) provided resistance to the Sunrisers, but regular wickets restricted them to 149 in total. Despite the defeat, Sunrisers remain at the top of the table with 10 points, while Royals moved down from the bottom with a timely victory.Brief scores Sunrisers Eastern Cape: 149 from 19.4 overs (47) Royal pearls: 150 for 5 in 19.4 overs (David Miller 71 not out, Keagan Lion-Cachet 45; Anrich Nortje 2/21, Marco Jansen 2/25)
