The Royals, which has looked impressive in the competition so far, clearly struggled without playmakers Joe Root, David Miller and Dinesh Khartik.  The men from the Boland would have come into the game brimming with confidence, but will no doubt leave the Windy City less confident.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the toss and chose to bat first. Jordan Hermann (53 off 38) and Tristan Stubbs (43 off 27), made the only real meaningful contributions with the bat, with David Bedingham (11 off 11) the only other batsman to get into double figures. The Sunrisers managed 148 for 8 in their 20 overs, which should not have posed too much of a problem for the Royals.

Royals captain Bjorn Fortuin took two wickets, as did Mitch Owen and Eshan Malinga, with Dunith Wellalage taking one.

Paarl Royals, however, were in deep trouble early on with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Owen, Mitchell van Buuren and Dewan Marais back in the changing room within the first three overs.  They were teetering on 22/5 in the fourth over, but Rubin Hermann (35 off 39) and Andile Phehlukwayo (22 of 24) tried to keep the innings together for the visitors. Their 49-run partnership was the Paarl Royal’s highest for the 6th wicket in T20’s, breaking the record of 40 between David Miller and Dane Vilas.  It was far from enough, however, and the Royals were bowled out in the 19th over with only 100 on the board.

For his half-century, Jordan Hermann won the Player of the Match award. Paarl Royals will remain second in the standings and will not lose their qualifying spot against MI Cape Town in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger