Sunday, 21 January 2024: Paarl Royals made Betway SA20 history when they claimed their first Cape Derby victory over MI Cape Town at the sizzling Boland Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Royals had previously been defeated on three occasions by the neighbours from Cape Town, with the latest reversal having been Friday evening at Newlands.
The winelands franchise were keen to regain their winning momentum and delivered a clinical bonus point 59-run victory to entrench their position at the top of the Betway SA20 log with 18 points.
MI Cape Town’s third defeat of the competition left them in fourth space with nine points.
Local hero, Bjorn Fortuin, was the star of the note for the Royals with the left-arm spinner delivering an inspired performance with the recent ball. Fortuin claimed two wickets in the first over of the Royals’ chase, removing both Rassie van der Dussen and Dewald Brevis with successive deliveries.
MI Cape Town were certainly in dire straits when they also lost the competition’s leading run-scorer Ryan Rickelton shortly afterwards for just five to reduce the visitors to 13/3. It was the first time that Rickelton had been dismissed for under fifty this season.
Fortuin returned for a second spell later and was rewarded with further success when George Linde was also dismissed for a duck. Fortuin finished with the impeccable figures of 3/15 as the visitors folded for 103 every out.
It was a complete bowling performance from the Royals, with fellow left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (2/11) and seamers Obed McCoy (2/18) and Lungi Ngidi (2/26) every relishing their home conditions at Boland Park.
In contrast, the Royals batters had earlier showed their neighbours the blueprint to scoring runs at Boland Park.
Openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler were selective in their shot making, but authoritative when they went on the attack as the pair added 116 for the first wicket that set the platform for the home side’s eventual 162/3.
Roy struck a Royals’ best of 68 off 46 balls, while Buttler contributed 54 off 42 balls.
Although the Royals lost their way a bit, with MI Cape Town novel signing Nuwan Thushara reigning in the home side with figures of 2/27 on debut, the winelands side were not going to be denied a momentous victory on the day.
Player of the Match: Bjorn Fortuin (3/15).
From: Cricket SA
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