SA20 Semi-final: Rossouw’s 56 off 41 helps Pretoria Capitals become first team to qualify for Final

Pretoria Capitals marched into the final of the inaugural season of SA20 by getting the better of Paarl Royals for a second successive day. After a high-scoring encounter in Centurion, the two sides squared off on a tacky Wanderers surface in the first semi-final.

The Capitals asked to bat first, and scored 153 before bowling their opposition out for 124. With Rilee Rossouw and Eathan Bosch playing starring roles in a tense 29-run victory in the first SA20 Semi-final.

SA20 Semi-final: Rossouw’s stroke play came into play to take the final’s berth home

Rossouw held the Capitals’ innings together with 56 off 41 balls as the table-toppers posted a competitive 153/8 after being inserted by the Royals.  

It was a surface that was not conducive to fluent strokeplay and Rossouw had to restrain his natural attacking game after the Royals spinners Bjorn Fortuin (1/24) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2/19) had started well.  

Royals all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo (3/29) maintained the pressure during the middle period, but Rossouw kept the scoreboard ticking over with a few timely boundaries.  

At the interval the match was evenly-poised before opening bowler Bosch provided the Capitals with the perfect start.  

Bosch (2/22) struck with the second delivery of the Royals innings when he removed England opener Jason Roy. But then Bosch delivered arguably the moment of the match when he clean bowled the in-form Jos Buttler (13) in his next over.  

The Royals were 13/2 and faced an uphill battle from hereon. The challenge became even steeper when Rossouw utilised his golden arm to have Eoin Morgan (17) caught on the cover boundary.  

From needing 30 runs off 12 to a 29-run victory

The Boland Park-based side had one last hope though in the form of their skipper David Miller. While Miller was at the crease anything remained possible, especially when the equation was reduced to 30 runs off the final 12 balls with two wickets remaining.  

However, the return of Anrich Nortje to the attack in the penultimate over saw to the demise of Miller (31) who was caught on the square-leg boundary before the tournament’s leading wicket-taker closed out the match when Colin Ingram claimed a brilliant catch off Shamsi to set off the Capitals’ celebrations.  

The Capitals now wait for the winner of the second semi-final between Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Centurion on Thursday to see who they will face in Saturday’s showpiece at the Wanderers.

Also read: SA20 League: Kusal Mendis displayed “victorious hammering” in League game between PC and DSG

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