Paarl Royals edge MI Cape Town in last-ball finish

In a dramatic-last ball finish Paarl Royals clinched a nervy 1-run victory over MI Cape Town at Boland Park, ensuring the visitors continued their winless run in the ongoing SA20.

Defending 15 in the final over, Ottneil Baartman dismissed Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada, and brought down the requirements to six off the last ball. George Linde scythed a wide delivery outside off stump over backward point, but it fell only a few yards before the boundary ropes.

The foundation for the victory, however, was laid by Lhuan-dre Pretorious, who smashed an unbeaten 65-ball 98 earlier in the day, stitching a century-stand for the opening wicket with Asa Tribe. Opting the bat, the Royals openers set the stage alight in the first half of the innings. They cut loose in the third over, cracking Rabada for three boundaries, and then taking down Rashid Khan for 16 runs a couple of overs later.

Tribe departed soon after bringing up his half-century, but Pretorius kept the attack going. The MICT bowlers did a fine job to claw their way back in the second half, with David Miller, Sikandar Raza and Delano Potgieter being kept in check as Royals were restricted to 181 for 3 from a point where a 200-plus total seemed possible.

The visitors also made a strong start in the chase, especially with Ryan Rickelton hitting four successive deliveries - across the fourth and the fifth over - for boundaries. Rassie van der Dussen also added to the attack, hammering Baartman for three sixes in four balls as they piled on 64 runs in the powerplay.

However, they struggled to sustain that momentum through the middle overs. Baartman struck twice in the 13th over, and Sikandar Raza chipped in with two more as MICT slipped to 122 for 6 heading into the last five overs. Rashid Khan hit some lusty blows, and was offered support from Linde. Baartman was smashed for 16 runs and Mujeeb was smoked for two sixes as the contest was brought down to the last over. A six by Rabada took the visitors deeper in the chase, but they couldn't cross the line.

Brief Scores: Paarl Royals 181/3 in 20 overs (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 98*, Asa Tribe 51; Rashid Khan 2-31) beat MI Cape Town 180/8 in 20 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 59, Ryan Rickelton 36; Ottneil Baartman 4-51, Sikandar Raza 3-27) by 1 run.