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So, that is it from myself, Karthik Raj and my co-commentator, Bala as we wrap up the proceedings from this afternoon fixture of the SA20. Don't go too far away as this is a double-header with MI Cape Town taking on Joburg Super Kings in an hour's time. You also switch onto the coverage between Dubai Capitals and MI Emirates in the ILT20 which is on currently. Until next time, it is a warm good-bye from us.
David Miller (Paarl Royals Captain): "It was a great start. It was a decent score. There are areas about the bowling we can talk about. The way the guys played upfront, it was great to see. Lhuan-dre (Lhuan-dre Pretorius) is a great talent and Rooty (Joe Root) is solid as a rock. (On Pretorius) He started great in the U-19 World Cup and then with the Titans. Root is a true ambassador of the game, and a role model for the youngsters. He obviously trains extremely hard. Hats off to him."
Aiden Markram (Sunrisers Eastern Cape Captain): "Tough one to take. I suppose if you come across a knock like that from Lheun-dre then you need to doff you cap. Disappointed to lose, but we need to get back and see how to win. It was nice to spend some time in the middle, would have liked a win. The standard of the competition is really high, finding wins can be tough. But we've been here before, we'll scrap away and try to find some momentum."
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Player of the Match): I'm just glad that we got over the line. Batting with Root, he gave me a lot of clarity. Lot of credit goes to Rooty for playing just four dot balls and turning over the strike. I was a bit annoyed after playing a couple of dot balls, but he calmed me down and helped me to play along. It's nice to get a good start to such a tournament. I will take some confidence into the coming games. Not looking too far ahead, just the next game for now.
Lhuan dre Pretorius has been named as the 'Player of the Match'
Lhuan-dre Pretorius 97 (51) | Joe Root 62* (44) Marco Jansen 1/31 (4)
The start wasn’t really enterprising as Paarl Royals got to 29/0 after four overs. However, the decision from Sunrisers Eastern Cape skipper Aiden Markram to bowl himself for the second time costed them as he gave away 20 runs. There was a missed opportunity in that over as well with Ottneil Baartman dropping a regulation catch off Lhuan dre Pretorius at short fine-leg. The Royals finished the Powerplay with a fine 57/0 and there was no looking back at that.
After a quiet over from Liam Dawson, Pretorius got stuck into Ottneil Baartman with the seamer giving away 11 runs off his first over. In the ninth over, Pretorius went onto become the youngest batter to score a fifty at 18 yrs and 290 days as he got to the milestone off 31 balls. The big-hitting southpaw went from strength to strength after that as he kept on smacking sixes for fun. He went past the record for the highest score on SA20 debut and looked all set for a century until Marco Jansen trapped him in front for 97!
After a couple of quiet overs, Root ensured that Paarl didn’t lose the plot as they took ten runs off the 16th over bowled by Simon Harmer. The classy Englishman also went onto register a fifty on his SA20 debut off 38 balls as the Royals continued to cruise towards the target. In the end, the Royals finished the chase with eight balls and nine wickets to spare.
18.4 Ottniel Baartman to Joe Root, walks down the track and drives the ball to wide mid-on. Wraps the game up with that single!
18.3 Ottniel Baartman to David Miller, length ball angling into the stumps. Works it across to square leg
18.2 Ottniel Baartman to David Miller, FOUR! Short of a length outside off. Miller slaps it to wide mid-off. Jansen is moving to his right, bt the ball hits the edge of a practise pitch and goes to his left. Kind of sums up the day for SEC
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Boland Park, Paarl
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