‘Great drama’ – Twitter can’t keep calm as Paarl Royals qualifies for semifinal despite losing to Pretoria Capitals

Paarl Royals and Pretoria Capitals locked horns in the last league game of the ongoing SA20 2023. Ahead of the game, the Royals needed to either win the game or ensure their NRR remains superior to Durban Super Giants. Despite the Super Giants’ 151-run win over the Capitals, their NRR didn’t go past the PR. This is why they needed the Pink Brigade, Royals to lose badly.

On the other hand, the David Miller-led Paarl needed to ensure that they reach at least 163 runs in case they were not winning the game. Apparently, PC batted first and amassed 226/5 at the end of the innings. Now, the Royals either needed to win the game or reach the 163-run mark to ensure their semifinal qualification. Meanwhile, despite Jos Buttler’s 70, the team lost seven wickets for 115 runs.

The tailenders of the team came to the rescue and the reached 167/9, winning the NRR game against DSG by four runs.

We would have loved to keep Paarl Royals out: Theunis de Bruyn

After the game, the Capitals’ skipper said that it was nice to win but would have loved to keep the Royals out.

“Nice to win, to be honest we would have liked to keep them out and face the team that gave us a hiding the other day… but we play to win, and same opposition in different conditions. Will assess tomorrow. We’ve played as a unit throughout the competition and we play to win,” De Bruyn said in the post-match presentation.

“We wanted to go out and win the game but got into a sticky situation so reassessed. They batted really well but there are areas we have to chat about… not a great game for us in all departments but we’re in the semi-finals. We’ve got matchwinners all the way through, Jos showed class and maturity, but we have to come together and put a big performance in tomorrow. It’ll be different conditions, a new game, we’ll be up for it,” David Miller said in the post-match.

This is how Twitter reacted

Great drama to end the group stage of SA20. Chasing 227, Paarl Royals needed 163 to qualify for the semis on NRR. They touched the required mark in the last over with 2 wickets in hand. Durban's Super Giants have missed a Semi Final berth by JUST 4 RUNS! #SA20

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 7, 2023

https://twitter.com/Cricketracker/status/1623038282501345286?s=20

What a thriller…… and it’s on again tomorrow!
Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals@SA20_League #sa20 @DavidMillerSA12 @KusalMendis13 pic.twitter.com/UQ1Wuyoxhe

— Urooj Mumtaz Khan (@uroojmumtazkhan) February 7, 2023

https://twitter.com/SuperSportTV/status/1623035963869114368?s=20

.@PretoriaCapsSA completed their 7th win of the group stage, but @paarlroyals had lot to celebrate despite the defeat after qualifying for the semi-finals courtesy a special @josbuttler knock.#PCvsPR #SA20 pic.twitter.com/XHy44LhnQ1

— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) February 7, 2023

Phew pic.twitter.com/kf0zIi06e1

— Paarl Royals (@paarlroyals) February 7, 2023

https://twitter.com/AppeFizzz/status/1623039306750361600?s=20

Paarl Royals did almost everything that they could, to gift Durban a qualification spot. Another Buttler master class takes them home, but that was a brain-dead batting performance.#SA20

— Peeyush Sharma (@peeyushsharmaa) February 7, 2023

https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1623040245037142016?s=20

https://twitter.com/KrAk0451/status/1622916633579913217?s=20