SA20 2025: Paarl Royals script history, become first team to bowl full 20 overs of spin

Paarl Royals, on Saturday (January 25), created history during their game against Pretoria Capitals in the ongoing SA20 2025.

They became the first-ever team in franchise T20 cricket to bowl an entire innings of 20 overs using only spinners. The move paid off as well, as they managed to defend a modest total of 140 runs and defeated Pretoria Capitals by 11 runs.

Bowling first, Pretoria Capitals used pacers in tandem on a pitch where spinners were more effective. As a result, Paarl Royals batters managed to keep the scoreboard ticking at a good rate. Of the 20 overs, the Capitals bowled a total of 11 overs by spinners.

On the other hand, the Royals relied completely on spinners to deliver the 20 overs and were duly rewarded. Bjorn Fortuin, Dunith Wellalage, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Joe Root bowled four overs each. Fortuin, Mujeeb, and Root got two wickets each while Wellalage claimed one wicket.

Spinners power Paarl Royals to fifth win in a row:

Asked to bat first, Paarl Royals posted a competitive total of 140/4. They were reeling at 41/3 at one stage but managed to recover thanks to an unbeaten fifty from Joe Root. Things could have been very different for the Royals had James Neesham not made a blunder on the field and give Root a reprieve when he was only 13.

Neesham had taken Root's catch but the ball slipped out of his hands after a couple of seconds. In the end, the third umpire gave his decision in the batsman's favor. Root made the most of the chance and went on to score an unbeaten 78 on a tough pitch.

Also Read: Watch: James Neesham does a Herschelle Gibbs, drops Joe Root in a bizarre fashion in SA20

In reply, Pretoria Capitals finished their innings on 129/7. Opener Will Jacks scored a fighting fifty but did not get good support from the other end. The Capitals were off to a poor start and were reeling at 23/3 after the powerplay.

Jacks and Kyle Verreynne then shared 77 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter departed for 30. Once the stand was broken, the Capitals' innings derailed again and they eventually finished on 129 for 7.

The win has helped the Royals further bolster their spot at the top of the points table. The win was their fifth in a row and sixth in seven games. On the other hand, Pretoria Capitals are reeling at the fifth spot with just one win from seven games.