Last Update: February 08, 2023, 11:43 IST
Paarl Royals lost the match but qualified for the last four.
Sri Lankan international Kusal Mendis was the mainstay of the Capitals’ innings, scoring 80 off 41 balls. Colin Ingram (41) and Phil Salt (39) also made meaningful contributions.
Tuesday: Paarl Royals may have lost to Pretoria Capitals by 59 runs in the last round-robin match of the Betway SA20, but they did enough to enter the semi-finals.
The Royals were playing a game within a game when the Capitals posted a mammoth 226/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Sri Lankan international Kusal Mendis was the mainstay of the Capitals’ innings, scoring 80 off 41 balls. Colin Ingram (41) and Phil Salt (39) also made meaningful contributions.
The Paarl-based side had a secondary target of 163 to edge out Durban’s Super Giants for the last remaining semi-final spot.
The Super Giants’ hopes were soaring when the Royals were reduced to 38/3 in the powerplay and then reeled off 101/5 in the 14th over when skipper David Miller returned to the pavilion with hopes of carrying on with his team.
However, the Royals still had Jos Buttler at the crease and the England limited-overs skipper smashed a brilliant 70 off 45 balls (4×4, 5×6) to take his side to the brink of qualification.
Ten runs were still needed from eight balls when Buttler departed and it was left to Bjorn Fortuyn to score eight runs from eight balls to put the Royals through to the semi-finals.
Table-topping Capitals, meanwhile, will be happy to get back to winning ways after their hiccup against the Super Giants with a rematch against the Royals in the first semi-final at Wanderers on Wednesday.
Joburg Super Kings will face third-placed Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the second Betway SA20 semi-final on Thursday in Centurion.
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