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SEASON 3 TEAM-BY-TEAM REVIEW | PAARL ROYALS

3 Mar 20253 mins

Paarl Royals’ Season 3 was a copybook of previous years.

Dominant at Boland Park during the group stage - the Royals became the first team to win five straight matches at home - but once again fell away during the Playoffs.

New coach Trevor Penney had set up his squad for the unique conditions in Paarl by loading the team with a variety of spin options. Bjorn Fortuin’s left-arm spin was always critical in the Powerplay, but now he was supported by Afghanistan mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sri Lankan Dunith Wellalage and Joe Root’s off-spin. Young leg-spinner Nqaba Peter was also part of the squad. This allowed the Royals to bowl a full 20 overs of spin against the Pretoria Capitals in one game.

Royals had also invested in South Africa’s youthful talent along with some vastly experienced overseas professionals. This reaped major dividends with teenage opening batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius announcing himself on the big stage in the grandest manner by finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer in his maiden Betway SA20 season.

It certainly helped that Pretorius had the support of former England captain Joe Root at the other end and former India T20 World Cup winner Dinesh Karthik - the first Indian international to play in SA20.

Root’s departure for England duties ahead of the playoffs certainly had a major impact on their fortunes as the Royals went down to eventual champions MI Cape Town in the Qualifier 1 at St George’s Park before also succumbing to the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Q2 at Centurion.

Teenage tearaway Kwena Maphaka also enjoyed his first taste of SA20 action and would certainly have benefitted from the experience.