Wednesday, St Georges Park: In the SA20 cricket match (Match 7 in the series) between Paarl Royals (currently bottom of the log) and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (currently top of the log) the Sunrisers won the toss and elected to bat first.
Smarting from going down 49/10 in their opening macth against the Sunrisers, the Paarl Royals had everyting to gain in this crunch match.
With a light westerly bringing the dark clouds closer to the stadium batting first was probably the right decision from Captain, Tristan Stubbs.
The SA20 team have certainly got something in the water in terms of getting fans into the stadium as a sea of orange warmed up along with the players on the park.
Sitting in the media room one could not help comparing what it was like before social media – the only people allowed in the media room in those days were bona fide journalists. We used to sit down in the indoor practice nets area during lunch (or supper) with all the players and officials and now – the players and officials all sit in a separate area away from the unwashed and hungry for clicks.
Opening for the Sunrisers were the two stlwarts – Jonny Barstow and Quinton de Kock facing the first ball from Paarl Royal’s, Fortuin.
FIRST OVER: This over presented no sparks as the Sunrisers pair only managed to put a single run on the board.
WICKET: Nqabeni Mokoena was next up to challenge De Kock and Barstow – just the right type of bowler for the pair. On the last ball of the over de Kock was caught behind and walked for 8 runs. 10/1 at the end of over 2.
SLUMP: Breetzke replaced de Kock at the crease and Fortuin returned for over number 2. The Sunrisers were certainly not getting the momentum as they slumped to 13/1 after the 3rd over.
BANG: The fourth over started with a bang with a four from Bartsow off of Mokoena. And then, for good measure, one more four. After a dangerous ball from Mokoena, Barstow replied in the best way possible with a nother four. Sunrisers – 27/1 (Breetzke: 3, Barstow: 16)
SUBDUED: The fifth over started very subdued with spinner, Fortuin, testing the limits until Brastow let rip with a six – 35/1 at the close.
NEW BOWLER/WICKET: Ottneil Baartman stepped up for his first over. Barstow, not intimidated, hit a four, then a six and fell into the trap as he was caught of the next delivery. Sunrisers on 45/2, next batsman Jordan Hermann. 46/2 at the end of the over. (Breetzke: 4, Hermann: 1).
50 UP: Seventh Over: Hermann facing Fortuin – first run on 3rd ball. Sunrisers ended the over on 50/2. (Breetzke: 6, Hermann: 3).
NEW BOWLER: Tribe in for his first over. Paarl Toyals sticking to as many spinners as possible – who have been effective in keeping the run rate down. 55/2 at the end of the over. (Breetzke: 8, Hermann: 12).
NEW BOWLER/WICKET: Potgieter stepped up to bring some pace to the attack. Great save on the boundary off of the first ball to prevent a four. The 3rd ball of the over brought despair as Potgieter caught and bowled Breetzke paving the way for Sunrisers Captain, Tristan Stubbs to step up to the crease. It would be safe to say that fans wished a run fest of note from this young attacking batsman. 60/3 at the end of the over. (Hermann: 6, Stubbs: 1).
TENTH OVER: 73/3 (Hermann: 16, Stubbs: 4).
NEW BOWLER/RAIN THREATENS/ONE HANDED FAN: Mujeeb bowling as the clouds become heavier and darker. On the fourth vball of the over Hermann sent a rocket ship into the crowd and one luck fan snagged a one handed catch. The bearded one now enters the competition for a share in R2 Million. 84/3. (Hermann: 22, Stubbs: 8).
THE PRESSURE IS ON: With the smell of rain in their nostrils Stubbs and Hermann began throwing caution to the winds and scrambling for every possible run, finishing the 12th over on 92/3. (Hermann: 29, Stubbs: 9).
THIRTEENTH OVER: Just when we thought that Baartman had slowed down the runs, Stubbs stroked a boundary off of the 4th ball, bringing the Sunrisers to 102/2 and ending the over on 103/2. (Hermann: 35, Stubbs: 13).
TRUST MUJEEB: Must have been the refrain as he slowed down the run rate again – forcing Stubbs and Hermann to stroke to fielders and not gaps. But all was not to go his way as the Sunrisers scrambled for 2 runs off the last ball. 108/3. (Hermann: 36, Stubbs: 16).
50 UP/WICKET – Stubbs and Hermann reached their 50 partnership on the first ball of this over. Then, disaster as Stubbs sent a sitter of a catch to the boundary off of the bowling of Mokoena. Next batter – Marco Jansen. 116/4. (Hermann: 43, Jansen: 1).
WHY CONSERVATIVE? With the field open and spinner Mujeeb bowling the first 4 balls were played very conservatively until Jansen could get his massive height below a delivery and send it soaring toward the Duck Pond end for a mighty six. 127/4 (Hermann: 45, Jansen: 10).
FIRST 3rd UMPIRE/WICKET: On the second ball of the 17th over Baartman appealed a bowl and catch – Hermann safe, play on. One can’t but comment with Jansen facing Baartman; “See if you can get that ball to bounce into the clouds!”. Jansen found his spot and scored a four and then on the next delivery was just short in the same spot. Only to be caught off of a massive drive towards the Long Room. 135/5. New batter: Gregory. 136/5
THREE TO GO/FIRST REVIEW/WICKET: Hermann appealed an LBW Decision off of the bowling of Mujeeb and was unsuccesful, leaving the crease with 47 runs to his credit. Up next – Muthusamy. Sunrisers on 137/6 with 15 balls to go. Sunrisers closed over number 18 on 138/6. (Gregory: 1, Muthusamy: 1).
RISKY BUSINESS/WICKET: Gregory swept the first ball bak over his shoulder towards the Duck Pond end for two quick scrambled runs. With less than two overs to go and a couple of wickets in hand now was the time for the Sunrisers to swing and take chances. And, as the words left my keyboard Muthusamy (2) swung and was caught. 142/7 as new batter, Milne, came out to play. A bit of a disaster for Milne as he went out for a duck. 142/8 (Gregory: 3, Nortje: 0)
FINAL OVER/WICKET: It was up to Baartman to close out the bowling. Target for the Sunrisers: 150 – would we see that? Some fine batting from the tail enders saw them get to 147 before Nortje (4) was caught behind, Sunrisers on 147/9 with 2 balls to go. New Batter: Rathnayake. And then it was up to Gregory to swing for at least two runs on the last ball, but it was not to be as Gregory was run out on his attempt for a second run.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape end on 149/10 and now it was up to the bowlers to keep the Royals down.
119 RUNS: The Sunrisers needed to restrict the Paarl Royals to 119 runs in order to gain a bonus point.
FIRST TWO OVERS: Things were not looking too good until Jansen came in to bowl in the second over, slowing the run rate from openers Pretorious and Tribe down.
THIRD OVER: Milne bowling. Disaster as Milne bowled a sitter, sent up behind by Tribe only to be dropped. 18/0. (Pretorious: 11, Tribe: 7)
LANKY JANSEN/WHAT A CATCH: Off the first ball Marco Jansen snagged his 50th SA20 Wicket as he sent a tempting mid height ball to Tribe who took the bait and sent it into the safe hands of Stubbs. Next batter: R Hermann. After a failed review Jansen took revenge on Hermann with a magnificent ball sent behind to be caught by Sunrisers Wicketkeeper, de Kock, at full stretch. 19/2 and the hearts began beating in the Royals camp. Next Batter: Kuyle Verryene. The over ended shakily for the Royals with another appeal, review and safe for Verryene. 20/2 (Hermann: 1, Verryene: 1)
NEW BOWLER: Rathwayake slowed the game down, giving the Royals breathing space enough to hit a four off of the third ball of the over. 28/2 after 5 overs. (Hermann: 7, Verryene: 2)
JANSEN OWNS IT: After 5 balls of the over the Royals failed to score a run. Royals restricted to 2 runs for the over after a failed boundary attempt on the last ball. 30/2 after 6 overs. ((Hermann: 9, Verryene: 3)
BRILLIANT NORTJE IN: Devastating Nortje was on form with a wicket off his second ball – Verryene (3) and the Royals slumped to 30/3. New Batter: Miller. Not intimidated MIller stroked his first ball to the boundary for a four. Closing out the 6th over Nortje delivered the ball to Wicketkeepr, De Kock, via the kiss of Verryene’s bat. Royals on 35/4. New Batter Lion-Cachet.
SIX: Miller claimed revenge for the last wicket hitting Rathayake for six off the first ball of his over. 45/4 (Miller: 14, Lion-Cachet: 1)
NORTJIE CONTINUES: A slow 9th over for the Royals as Nortje restricted them to only 3 runs for the over. 48/4 (Miller: 15, Lion-Cachet: 2)
CRUCH TIME: The question on everyone’s lips; “Will the Sunrisers restrict the Royals to less than 60 runs at the end of the over?” At this time in the Sunrisers innings they closed off the 10th over on 73/3. Time will tell. Bowling this crucial over – Gregory. The Royals cloed this crunch over on 54/4 (Miller: 17, Lion-Cachet: 5)
SYNOPSIS: Royals on 54 and needing 149 to win or 119 to deny the Sunrisers a bonus point seems to be fading fast as they now play for pride with 4 wickets down.
TARGET RECEDES: Some economical bowling from Milne restricted the Royals to two runs in this 11th over. 56/4 (Miller: 18, Lion-Cachet: 6)
SIX: Revenge for a poiss poor over from Miller as he sent the first ball from Gregory for SIX runs. After the 3rd ball it was time for a Captain chat and slight field adjustment. And the slide to second continued as the Royals ended on 64/4 (Miller: 25, Lion-Cachet: 8)
LUCKY FOR SOME OVER: You spin me right round, Rathayake, bowling from the Duck Pond end. But he didn’t have it all his way as the Royals stroked two boundaries amongst singles and doubles, to end on 78/4 (Miller: 31, Lion-Cachet: 15).
SEVEN TO GO: The tension in the Sunrisers was palpable as they contemplated a bonus point victory – so much so that one was tempted to call out that they should relax, play the game, eyes on the ball, trust the process and breathe. Royals ended the over on 87/4 with Miller and Verryene marking their 50 partnership. (Miller: 36, Lion-Cachet: 18).
SIX/ONE HANDED CATCH/ONE HUNDRED UP: Another lucky fan needs to thank Miller for a magnificent Duck Pond End one handed catch by a lucky spectator. And just like that it looked like the Royals would deny the Sunrisers their bonus point as they ascednded to 98 runs. Not a good over for Gregory as the Royals reached 100/4 (Miller: 48, Lion-Cachet: 19).
SIXTEENTH OVER: And the game was on – Royals needing 44 runs off of 29 balls to win and the denial of a bonus point almost a certainty. The crowd settled into waiting and watching with hearts in their throats. One could almost feel te Sunrisers descending into a bit of a funk. A funk made worse as the Royals ended the over on 119/4 denying a bonus point win to the Sunrisers. (Miller: 62, Lion-Cachet: 24).
THE CHASE TO WIN: With one hurdle accomplished, this over was the time for the Royals to fucus on their target of 149. But it did not go the way of the Royals as they only managed to add 3 runs ending on 123/4 (Miller: 64, Lion-Cachet: 25)
18 BALLS TO GO: The Royals needed 27 runs off the last three overs to win and started with a four leaving worried faces around the park. Needing a wicket to stop the momentum the Sunrisers appeared to be unravelling as they squandered a run out opportunity. Followed by a diving Stubbs missing the stop only to watch the ball travel for four. 133/4 (Miller: 66, Lion-Cachet: 31)
SHIT: A dropped catch on the boundary off of Jansen’s first ball made things more difficult for the Sunrisers as the Royals smelt blood. Two fours in succession put the cat amongst the pigeons. For the first time in the afternoon the fans contemplated watching a loss as the score climbed to 144/4 with one ball to go in the over. A disastrous over for the Sunrisers as they slumped to 148/4 (Miller: 70, Lion-Cachet: 45)
TWO RUNS TO WIN: The start of the last over saw the Royals in a very strong position. The odds were definitely against the Sunrisers as the score went to 1 run needed from 3 balls. And then, FINALLY, a wicket as Lion-Cachet succumbed top the bowling of Gregory, caught by Muthusamy. To face the final ball/s – Potgieter. Without hitting a ball Potgietr won the match with the Royals as Gregory bowled a WIDE.
Paarl Royals win by 5 wickets closing out on 150/5.
The minnows bested the favourites on home ground – what a disappointment for home fans and the over confident Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Post Match Awards:
- Player of the Match: David Miller (Paarl Royals)
- It’s raining sixes match award – David Miller (Paarl Royals – 5 sixes)
- Switch Game Changer of the Match – David Miller (Paarl Royals)
- Absa Moneyball Saver – Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals – 14 dot balls)
- DP World Dispatch of the Day – Jordan Hermann (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Standings:
- Sunrisers Eastern Cape – 10
- Joburg Super Kings – 9
- Durban’s Super Giants – 6
- Paarl Royals – 4
- MI Cape Town – 2
- Pretoria Capitals – 0
The Sunrisers are away for the next three matches and return to St Georges Park on Saturday, 11 January at 15h30 to play against the Durban Super Giants.
Thereafter they play two more at St Georges Park:
- Wednesday 14 January 2026 at 17h30 against Joburg Super Kings and
- Sunday 18 January 2026 at 15h30 against MI Cape Town.
