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SA20 2025 PC vs PR Highlights: Root-Inspired Royals Outclass Capitals In Final-Over Thriller

Arnav Chopra∙ Updated: Jan 18 2025, 9:57 PM

Joe Root Bats For Paarl Royals (Source: @Wessy_x/X.com)Joe Root Bats For Paarl Royals (Source: @Wessy_x/X.com)

Paarl Royals, on the back of Joe Root, chased down the record total of 213 runs against home side Pretoria Capitals by eight wickets in Match 12 of SA20 with effective contributions from skipper David Miller and debutant Rubin Hermann with just two balls to spare. With this victory, they now move on to the top of the table.

Here's the timeline of how Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals panned out in Centurion:

Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Highlights: Gurbaz, Smeed Provide Early Muscle To Capitals

After losing Will Jacks for 9 in the third over, Pretoria kept the momentum going, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Will Smeed taking the opportunity to go after the bowlers as Kwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi got the beating. Gurbaz lost his wicket on the final delivery of the 10th over after scoring 42 off just 29 deliveries, whereas Smeed kept going and scored a half-century on his SA20 debut.

However, he lost his wicket for 54 from 34 balls with as many as three sixes to his name when the Capitals' score was 133 for two after completing 13.2 overs.

Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Highlights: Neesham, Verreyenne provide final blows to push Capitals to 212

Soon after Smeed departed, wicket-keeper Kyle Verreyenne was instrumental in his knock of 45, consuming 23 deliveries while striking two boundaries and four maximums. His innings was well-supported by Kiwi all-rounder James Neesham's 13-ball 28* after getting a life due to a no-ball.

Capitals finished their innings on 212 after the end of 20 overs while losing five of their batters. Meanwhile, from the bowling side, except Mujeeb ur Rahman, who bagged figures of 2/28 in his four overs, everyone else proved costly as they leaked runs over 10 RPO.

Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Highlights: Root-Rubin Wreak Havoc On Bowlers With Record Partnership

Paarl felt the pinch early on in their innings as their star opener, Lhuan-dre Pretorious, played it straight into the hands of bowler Jacks on the very first delivery of their innings. Chasing 213 for victory, the early dent didn't cause them much damage as English superstar Joe Root took the matters into his own hands and did what he is known to do. Whereas debutant Rubin Hermann, after starting off slowly, attacked Tiaan van Vuuren to break the shackles.

On the other end, Root showed no signs of stopping, striking regular boundaries and taking his side's score to 101/1 after the end of 10 overs.

Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Highlights: Root-Miller Grandstand Take Royals Home In Final Over

With 112 more required for the win in the last 10 overs, the Royals kept their foot on the accelerator as runs kept coming somehow. Hermann played a fine hand of 56 runs and departed after smashing three sixes in total. After Rubin left, Royals' skipper David Miller joined the party and kept their side in the contest with regular boundaries here and there.

In the end, with eight required for victory in the last over, Paarl finished the game with two balls and eight wickets to spare as Miller scored 48* off 24 balls, but the real credit must go to Root for carrying his bat and playing a gutsy unbeaten innings of 92* from 60 deliveries with eleven fours and two biggies.