BUTTLER: LUBBE SHOWED GREAT MATURITY IN JSK WIN

Paarl Royals stand-in captain Jos Buttler is hoping his team can “ride the momentum” after stretching their lead at the top of the Betway SA20 table at the Wanderers on Wednesday evening.

The Royals are four points clear of their nearest challengers, Durban’s Super Giants, having collected 22 points from six matches, which includes five victories.

Even without their injured captain David Miller, who is suffering from a calf strain, the Royals still managed to execute their gameplans to perfection with a five-wicket win at the Bullring.

Buttler was full of praise for the way the batting unit stepped up in the absence of Miller, particularly Wihan Lubbe (57) and the incoming Dane Vilas (42).

“Really happy (with the result),” Buttler said. “The wicket played quite tricky, there is not much margin for error. Both innings went the same way in terms of how it panned out.

“Lubbe showed great character and great maturity and Vilas showed great energy in the end.”

It was, however, the bowlers that had set up the victory by restricting the home team to just 168/3.

They were once again led by the hugely impressive Bjorn Fortuin upfront with the left-arm spinner conceding just 14 runs from his four overs.

The Royals have made reference all season to coach Shane Bond’s meticulous gameplans as the reason for their success, and  Buttler emphasised it once more at the Wanderers.

“The clarity with the ball is important, the coaches have given simple plans to which the guys are sticking to,” he said.

“We are not worried about our position at the minute, the games keep coming thick and fast and we can hopefully ride on this momentum.”

The Royals are back home tomorrow in a top-of-the-table clash with DSG at Boland Park.