Sun Jan 04 17:20:00 UTC 2026: Paarl Royals Edge Out MI Cape Town in Thrilling SA20 Encounter
Paarl, South Africa – In a nail-biting SA20 match at Boland Park, the Paarl Royals defeated defending champions MI Cape Town by a single run. MI Cape Town’s struggles continue, leaving them winless after four games and at the bottom of the league table.
The Royals, after being put in to bat, posted a formidable 181 for 3, their highest score at the venue. Young opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius was the star of the innings, smashing a T20 career-best 98. Asa Tribe contributed a quick-fire 51.
MI Cape Town started their chase strongly, reaching 109 for 1 in the 12th over, with Rassie van der Dussen scoring a valiant 59. However, a collapse triggered by Ottneil Baartman (4-51) and Sikandar Raza (3-27) saw them lose five wickets for just nine runs.
A late partnership of 51 runs between George Linde and Rashid Khan gave MI Cape Town hope. The equation came down to 15 runs required from the final over, but Baartman held his nerve, claiming two crucial wickets, including that of Kagiso Rabada, to seal the victory for the Royals.
Pretorius and Tribe’s explosive start for Paarl, including aggressive hitting against Rabada, set the stage for their competitive total. While the middle overs saw a slight slowdown, Pretorius’s late acceleration brought them to a strong finish. The Royals successfully defended their total on a slow pitch, marking a significant turnaround after their previous home game where they were bowled out for just 49.
The match also saw Jason Smith, a surprise inclusion in South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad, dismissed for just 1, adding pressure on him as the tournament progresses.
First Piper 