that will be that! A massive 57-run win for DSG and they usurp the Royals at the top of the table! Slower ball on a length outside off. Ngidi backs away and gives it the lot. Miscues it, though, and offers a regulation catch to Maharaj at long off!
Super Giants vs Royals, 19th Match at Paarl, SA20, Jan 26 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary
9:15pm That will be all from us. Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we loved bringing it to you. Until next time, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat), Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!
Keshav Maharaj, Durban's Super Giants captain: That powerplay over by Smuts towards the end helped Quinny and they just continued the momentum from there. (On de Kock batting in the middle order) Quinny is talented enough to bat anywhere. Full credit to him to take responsibility and show such maturity. The way he paced his innings was superb to watch. (On the pitch) The wicket was getting better but it was holding up from the cracks. We felt if we could get wickets, they could fall in clusters. Jon-Jon set the tone bowling a difficult over in the powerplay. The fast bowlers did exceptionally well too. If you give yourself an extra bite at the cherry, it does help. But we must not take anything for granted and hopefully we can finish in the top two.
David Miller, Paarl Royals captain: We wanted to chase if we won the toss. We bowled well up until the back end. They batted really well at the back end, that set us back. Was not our night. We are pretty comfortable with the different wickets we have had, this is a lovely place to play cricket. We have one more game and we hope to make that count. (On de Kock and Klaasen) They are world-class batters. You have to be on your mark. They batted superbly, put us under pressure. Nothing to be concerned about. Just a couple of conversations around what the guys were thinking in certain moments. We are on a good path. We don't want to lift our feet off the gas now and play the cricket we want to.
Quinton de Kock, Player of the Match: I got an opportunity tonight and it came off (on batting in the middle order). I have not gotten off to the best of starts but I am still feeling good. Just needed something to click, not sure what it was. The wicket was pretty good, it was a little slow. Took time to adapt, tried to figure out what the Paarl team wanted to do and then took it from there.
8:55pm A clinical bowling display to follow up a superlative batting performance. Buttler and Roy came after them early but once Smuts sent the latter packing, DSG called the shots. Their spinners Maharaj and Noor kept the batters guessing in the middle overs, with Stoinis also popping up with three crucial scalps. Naveen and Topley also did their bit, and DSG will be really pleased with how this evening has panned out.
A real off-day for the Royals. Apart from Buttler, none of the other batters stood up. Miller, in particular, looked rusty and the rest of the middle order failed to come to the party. This 57-run defeat will dent their NRR significantly too, but the good thing is they already have 22 points on the board, and are still in pole position to qualify for the playoffs.
yorker outside off. Shamsi chalks it off the toe-end towards extra cover and gets off the mark
into the blockhole on middle and off. Ngidi squeezes it out to mid off
Shamsi is the last man in. He is at the non-striker's end, though. Royals need 60 to win, and 22 to deny DSG a bonus point. Both seem highly unlikely. Naveen to bowl
cleans him up! Length delivery angling into middle and leg. McCoy clears his front leg and swings like a rusty gate. Gets nowhere close to the ball and hears the death rattle soon after!
low full toss on off stump. Ngidi backs away and clinks it to long on
very full just outside off. McCoy winds up and drills it to long on
McCoy is the new batter in
Phehlukwayo sends this to the moon again, and on this occasion, it is taken! Topley slows it up and bowls it on a length on leg stump. Phehlukwayo is too early into the stroke and gets under it. Goes miles up but lacks the distance. Breetzke settles himself and completes the catch well inside the deep mid wicket fence!
finds the fence! Full and wide outside off. Phehlukwayo throws his hands at it and butchers it past backward point for four!
Royals need 28 off 11 to deny DSG a bonus point
full on the pads. Phehlukwayo flicks it to long on and decides against taking the single
Topley is back
full on middle and leg. Ngidi stabs it towards deep square leg and the Royals decide against the single to keep Phehlukwayo on strike
Ngidi joins Phehlukwayo
edged and taken! Goes short again, and this time it has the beating of Fortuin. Rushes him for pace and Fortuin, looking to swipe it into next week, can only feather it through to de Kock!
length on middle and off. Fortuin gives himself a bit of room and launches it on the bounce to long on
short and wide outside off. Slapped out to the sweeper at deep cover point
slower ball dug into the track on leg stump. Fortuin forces it down the ground to long on
shortish on off stump. Fortuin stands tall and pulls it powerfully to long on's right for a couple of runs
Royals need 72 off 18 for the win, and 34 off 18 to deny DSG a bonus point
off-pace on a full length outside off. Fortuin swings hard at it and tugs it towards long on
shot! Short outside off and this sits up to be hit. Fortuin gets on top of the bounce and laces it between extra cover and mid off!
skies this, and grassed again! Banged into the track on leg stump. Phehlukwayo opens up his stance and swings for the hills. Shanks it and de Zorzi, haring in from deep backward square leg, puts it down. He perhaps slid too early and could not make up those extra couple of yards that would have made the catch easier
excellent yorker that hones in on the batter's toes. Phehlukwayo jams it out towards extra cover
pick the bones out of that one! Slower delivery that lands right in the slot at the stumps. Phehlukwayo winds up and thumps it over the bowler's head!
full and slanting into off stump. Fortuin pokes it down the ground to long on
Over 20 • PR 133/10