9:11pm That will be all from us for tonight. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and we will be back with more franchise T20 league action tomorrow. Until then, this is goodbye from Thilak and myself. Take care, folks!
Bjorn Fortuin, Player of the Match: It was a bit on the slower side - that is what you generally expect here. Did not expect it to be that slow. We tried to figure out (how slow to bowl) and that set us up nicely for the back end. We are quite diverse as a group (in terms of our spinners). We complement each other nicely and fortunately, we got the job done (tonight). (On Miller as captain) He has grown as a captain in his own right. Learning from him is cool. We have set ourselves up nicely for the second half of the competition and hopefully we can finish it off. (On his bowling approach) A bit beforehand but it is about adapting as well. In the past, I have been guilty of going searching a little but working well (so far this season).
David Miller, Paarl Royals captain: Going really well. chuffed and pleased with the results. They came hard at us (in the powerplay), we pulled it back really well. Really nice performance with the ball. Malinga came in and pulled it back - 20 from his first over and then three phenomenal overs on the trot (at the death). Nice to have someone like him (to be there at the death). (On the middle order scoring runs) It is great. With the great starts we have had…one of them has performed if the other hasn't. Tonight showed we have depth (in our batting) and closing out the game the way we did. Really pleased with Mitch (van Buuren) and Rubin (Hermann) came out guns blazing, playing the way he does. (On their flight to Durban getting delayed and the hardship it caused) It is challenging. It has been a tough 24 hours but at the end of the day, we have managed it pretty well. Landed this afternoon, performed really well, chuffed with the guys' attitude - walking onto the field and playing really good cricket.
Keshav Maharaj, Durban's Super Giants captain: We were maybe 15-20 runs shy on a wicket like this. We lost our way a little bit. They bowled well, their plans were good. We gave away too many boundaries in the powerplay and could not get back (in the game). We did not take too much pace off the ball, especially in the powerplay. In hindsight, it is hard to say but now, it is about getting results in our favour and anything can happen (after that). Quinny doing what he does at the top. We know he (Klaasen) is due, hopefully he gets three big performances (in the games that remain). Just to the fans, thanks for all the loyalty. The results have not gone our way and we gave it our all. We appreciate you and love you too much, hopefully next year, the results go our way.
8:52pm Not the most spotless of run-chases but the Royals chase down a score successfully for the fifth time this season. Pretorius was excellent at the start and stunned the Super Giants with the intent he showed. Hermann then took over and creamed the ball to all parts, ensuring that the Royals were well ahead when the powerplay ended. van Buuren and Miller then did the heavy lifting through the middle overs and even though both fell before they finished off the job, they had effectively won the Royals the game by then.
Another ordinary outing for the Super Giants. It felt at the half-way stage that they were short and the Royals' opening blitz only confirmed it. Maharaj bowled with control and Noor looked thretaening but as the end of the season looms, they will have to figure out a way to bat better and give their bowlers more to work with.
Everyone up in the ring, barring deep square leg
Galiem is the new batter in
DA Miller run out 24 (43m 21b 2x4 0x6) SR: 114.28
END OF OVER:17 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | PR: 141/4 (2 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.29, RRR: 0.66)
- Dinesh Karthik5 (5b)
- David Miller24 (21b)
- Junior Dala4-0-38-2
- Noor Ahmad4-0-30-1