Action replay? Yes, please, says David Miller. 

After just 48 hours of beating Pretoria Capitals to win their first match of the 2024 season, Paarl Royals gear up to lock horns with the Capitals once again in their second SA20 fixture, this time away from home.

 

 

Match Details

Match 6: Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals
Where: SuperSport Park, Centurion
When: January 14 2024
What time: 7 PM IST (3:30 PM Local)

Known for high scores, fast wickets, a lush outfield and relaxed grass embankments, the electric SuperSport Park in Centurion prepares to host the Capitals' first home game of this season. Pacers will love bowling on the bouncy wickets here, the batters will love it even more, with the ball coming onto the bat nicely. The average first innings score across 117 T20 matches has been around 160. But in the last 10 matches, that score has reached close to 200. Without a doubt, spinners have usually found it challenging to bowl here, accounting for just 17 wickets in the last 10 T20s, as compared to the quicks who have scalped 107 in 20 innings. 

Royal to watch

Andile Phehlukwayo: While the Royals' batters stitched crucial partnerships in the last match, it was the bowling unit that really stepped up to deliver a clutch victory in the end. The performance of the day belonged to all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, whose contributions with bat and ball were the difference between the Royals and the Capitals. In the first innings, his explosive, quick cameo helped his team cross the 150-run mark - a much-needed boost to the team as they walked in to defend the total. He then returned with the ball to further dent the opponent's chase, removing the dangerous and well-settled Rilee Rossouw and James Neesham.

 

 

Team news

In their previous encounter, the Royals went in with as many as six bowlers in the side, with Phehlukwayo as the specialist all-rounder alongside Fabian Allen and Wihan Lubbe. Captain David Miller in his post-match interview also stressed on the importance of building a strong bowling attack, and it probably is an extension of the mentality brought into the team by the new Head Coach, Shane Bond. It will be interesting to see if there are any early changes in the Playing XI, given the team is riding on the winning momentum.