NEW DELHI: SA20‘s Paarl Royals on Saturday created history, becoming the first franchise ever in T20 cricket to bowl 20 overs of spin.
The Royals scripted the unique record in the game against Pretoria Capitals at the Boland Park when spinners Bjorn Fortuin, Dunith Wellalage, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nqabayomzi Peter and Joe Root joined hands to bowl the entire 20 overs while defending 141.
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The record is now a first in franchise T20 history and in T20Is involving full member sides.
Making superb use of his spinners, captain David Miller‘s punt to use only spinners worked out to perfection as Royals went on to clinch the contest by 11 runs.
While Fortuin, Mujeeb and Root picked up a couple of wickets each Wellalage bagged one as well as Pretoria were stopped at 127 for 7 in their chase of 141.
Earlier, Englishman Root starred with the bat, scoring 56-ball 78 to lift Royals to 140 for 4. Captain Miller also played a useful 18-ball 29 not out, providing late flourish to Royals innings.
Chasing 141, Pretoria’s Will Jacks scored 56 and Kyle Verreynne got 30 but no other batter got to the double-digit score.
Root was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match for his 78 with the bat and two wickets.
With the win over Pretoria, table-toppers Royals also secured their third consecutive playoffs spot.
