GQEBERHA: Jos Buttler struck a brilliant half-century after the bowlers’ brilliance to power Paarl Capitals to a five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the 21st match of the ongoing SA20.
Put into bat first, the Sunrisers endured a ruthless attack by the Capitals’ bowlers as they restricted the hosts to a paltry 130/7 in 20 Overs despite JJ Smuts’ magnificent knock of 65 runs.
The Sunrisers had a frustrating start to their innings as they lost their opener, Adam Rossington, cheaply for a mere four runs inside the first over.
Following the early setback, Smuts looked to counterattack with his belligerent hitting and stitched two vital partnerships with Jordan Hermann (4) and Aiden Markram (15) to take the Sunrisers past the 100-run mark before finally perishing in the 16th over.
The right-handed batter piled 65 runs off 49 deliveries and smashed nine boundaries.
Following his dismissal, the Sunrisers again began to lose wickets at crucial stages which barred them from amassing a defendable total.
For the Capitals, Andile Phehlukwayo and Evan Jones claimed two wickets each, while Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi and Bjorn Fortuin struck out a batter each.
Set to chase 131, the Capitals comfortably sailed through, courtesy of an anchoring half-century by Buttler and a quickfire cameo by skipper David Miller.
Buttler top-scored for the Capitals with 51 off 39 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and two sixes, while Miller scored a brisk 37 off just 23 balls and propelled his side to glory in the 19th over.
Roelof van der Merwe took two wickets for the Sunrisers, while Marco Jansen, Sisanda Magala and Smuts made one scalp each.
READ: Pakistan lose to New Zealand, crash out of U19 Women’s T20 WC
