Paarl Royals off the mark in SA20 as Joburg Super Kings implode

Just one of the Joburg top eight managed to reach double figures - Kyle Verreyne with 11 - as the visitors limped to 36 for 7 at one stage, before late hitting from the tail lifted them to 81

Paarl: Joburg Super Kings 81, Paarl Royals 82-3 - Paarl Royals won by seven wickets

Scorecard

Joburg Super Kings' batting deserted them as Paarl Royals banked their first SA20 victory with ease at Boland Park.

The Super Kings had racked up 190 in their opening fixture of the campaign, against Durban Super Giants, but came unstuck against the Royals' disciplined lines and lengths.

Just one of the Joburg top eight managed to reach double figures - Kyle Verreyne with 11 - as the visitors limped to 36 for 7 at one stage, before late hitting from the tail lifted them to 81.

^{Paarl Royals secured their first SA20 victory [Sportzpics/CSA/SA20]}

^{Imaad Fortuin claimed three wickets for Paarl [Sportzpics/CSA/SA20]}

Imaad Fortuin led the way with the ball, claiming the wickets of Janneman Malan, Reeza Hendricks and Lewis Gregory to immediately put the Super Kings on the back foot.

Fortuin finished with figures of 3 for 16 in four overs, while Evan Jones picked up three of his own (3-21). Joburg's miserable innings lasted 17.1 overs.

In response, Jason Roy was dismissed cheaply by George Garton, and Wiaan Lubbe lobbed a catch to point off Romario Shepherd, but the miracle the Super Kings required never looked like happening.

^{The Joburg batting lineup collapsed [Sportzpics/CSA/SA20]}

^{Jos Buttler guided his side to victory [Sportzpics/CSA/SA20]}

And with Jos Buttler at the other end, defending 181 would have been a challenge, let alone 81. 

Buttler saw the innings through, never quite timing the ball as sweetly as he can at his best, but comfortably picking off the bad balls and finishing 29 not out.

Paarl reached their target with nearly half of their innings (9.3 overs) remaining.

Joburg will be hoping for an instant response to this disappointment when they face MI Cape Town on Saturday (January 14). Paarl travel to Durban Super Giants on Sunday (January 15)

Related Topics

• Pretoria Capitals off to winning start with 23-run victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape
• SA20 2023 match preview: Pretoria Capitals v Sunrisers Eastern Cape