Royals vs Capitals, 3rd Match at Paarl, SA20, Jan 12 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

9:25pm Right. That is it from us for this game. Thank you for tuning in, and do join us tomorrow too. A double-header is in store, with MI Cape Town taking on Joburg Super Kings in the afternoon before the Sunrisers Eastern Cape clash with Durban's Super Giants. Until then, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat) and Chandan. Take care!

David Miller, Paarl Royals captain: It was a bit tight after the powerplay we had. The guys bowled really well nonetheless. A couple of edgy shots put us under pressure. The guys executed beautifully and it was a great finish. Really pleasing. (On their bowling unit) We have bolstered our bowling this year and we have a really good attack, confident of defending most scores. It is difficult to come in here and score from ball one, until it is in the powerplay. Anything 150-160 is a good score (here). This competition has grown from strength to strength, and it is nice to feel the buzz and the energy from the crowd. We always really enjoy that and appreciate it.

James Neesham, Pretoria Capitals captain: (On the pitch) Not an ideal surface but you cannot have belters every game. We did well to restrict them, thought it was a par score. They bowled brilliantly, especially in the middle and it was tough for new batters to get going. (On the Royals' attack) They picked a team that suits their home ground, so you expect them to bowl well. Lungi and the other guys bowled extremely well. (On the learnings from this game) You don't take too much out of a game like this. The surface will be different and we have a line-up that is suited to our surface. We have experience and it is a case of dusting ourselves off and getting ready for the next one. (On the preparation before today's game) We came out here yesterday, and the practice wickets were very similar. No excuses (as far as preparation is concerned). Nothing new coming up on a surface like this. Don't think it was a terrible surface. We are professionals and it is about adapting to each surface.

Andile Phehlukwayo is the Player of the Match, here is what he has to say: It was good, being out in the park, having not played in a while. Being out there was a bit emotional for me. The wicket was quite tough in the beginning. The partnership between David and Mitch was very important. When you are starting to get momentum and then a niggle happens, it is quite difficult. I have tried to work hard on my game, improve every single day and lucky enough to put up this performance for the team.

9:06pm A fairly comfortable win in the end for the Royals. They bowled clinically and even when they went for a few in the powerplay, they held their nerve. Phehlukwayo broke the Salt-Rossouw partnership, and that triggered a slide, with Salt perishing to Shamsi soon after. The Capitals just could not recover thereafter, and even though Neesham found the fence thrice in the final over, it was too late by then.

Speaking of Neesham, he will not be too best pleased with the way he or the rest of the batters batted. They were strangled by the spinners and by the pacers' change of pace, which undid the rollicking start they got. The Capitals will have to figure out a mechanism to tackle such conditions, given teams might now look to target them with spin.

50 off 14 now

Neesham back on strike. The Capitals could do with a boundary here

The last boundary was scored off the fourth ball of the ninth over

McCoy to bowl out