Paarl Royals edge MI Cape Town in last-ball finish

In a dramatic last-ball finish, Paarl Royals clinched a nervy one-run victory over MI Cape Town at Boland Park, extending the visitors' winless run in the SA20.

Defending 15 in the final over, Ottneil Baartman dismissed Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada, leaving six required off the last ball. George Linde slashed a wide delivery over backward point, but it landed just short of the boundary rope.

The foundation for the Royals' win was laid by Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who smashed an unbeaten 98 off 65 balls, sharing a century opening stand with Asa Tribe. After opting to bat, the openers ignited the innings early, taking 16 runs off Rashid Khan in one over. Tribe departed after a half-century, but Pretorius maintained the attack. MI Cape Town's bowlers fought back in the second half, restricting the Royals to 181/3 after a 200-plus total seemed likely.

MI Cape Town started strongly in the chase, with Ryan Rickelton hitting four consecutive boundaries and Rassie van der Dussen hammering Baartman for three sixes in four balls, powering to 64 in the powerplay. However, momentum stalled in the middle overs. Baartman struck twice in the 13th over, and Sikandar Raza added two more wickets, reducing MI Cape Town to 122/6 with five overs left.

Rashid Khan and George Linde revived the chase with some big hits, including 16 runs off Baartman and two sixes off Mujeeb, setting up a tense final over. A six by Rabada kept hopes alive, but MI Cape Town fell just short.

Brief Scores:
Paarl Royals 181/3 in 20 overs (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 98*, Asa Tribe 51; Rashid Khan 2-31)
MI Cape Town 180/8 in 20 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 59, Ryan Rickelton 36; Ottneil Baartman 4-51, Sikandar Raza 3-27)
Paarl Royals won by 1 run.