Estonia vs Cyprus - Commentary

That ends the action from Monday in the SA20. Tuesday, 28th January, 2025 sees the Pretoria Capitals take on the Joburg Super Kings in a day-night game. If Joburg win that game, they will knock Pretoria out and we will have our top four teams, with only the positions left to play for. The first ball will be bowled at 9 pm IST (1530 GMT) but our buildup will begin well in advance. In the meanwhile, you can catch the action from the T20I series between West Indies Women and Bangladesh Women, the Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup, the third T20I between India and England and the International League T20. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Hmmm... testing time for David Miller then, as he is going to go for scans in the morning. The Paarl Royals next move to Johannesburg to meet the Joburg Super Kings, on Thursday, 30th January, 2025. Given the short turnaround, should the skipper sit that game out? Surely the playoffs are more important? The Durban's Super Giants, on the other hand, get a 5-day rest now to ponder over how this season has gone by, before they also meet the Joburg Super Kings on Saturday, 1st February, 2025 in Johannesburg as well. They will want to show how proud a team they are.

The victorious captain of Paarl Royals, DAVID MILLER, is happy with the 100 percent record of his team in Paarl, thanking the fans for their support. Credits the success to the team sticking to the plans made in the dressing room. Is happy for the youngsters coming through and is happier specifically for Kwena Maphaka. On Bjorn Fortuin, calls him a phenomenal performer, wanting the new ball and complements him for his variety in pace, lines and lengths. Is not too fussed about travelling through the country and stresses that the squad is well equipped to play in different conditions.

The skipper of Durban's Super Giants, KESHAV MAHARAJ, admits that high emotions were running towards the end of the game but is proud of his team for fighting it hard. Praises Kane Williamson and Marcus Stoinis for strutting their stuff and showing why they are demanded so highly around the world. Does not want to blame his bowlers as he feels that they bowled well. Details that initially they could not get wickets, but once they started getting those, the confidence came back. Stresses that there is still a lot of pride left in the team and they will not go down without fighting in their last game, although there are no more chances of qualification.

Paarl Royals' RUBIN HERMANN HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his wonderful 59 (51) with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Says that he feels lucky to be a part of SA20 and is happy to have contributed to the team's win. Feels that he along with Lhuan-dre Pretorius are both naturally aggressive cricketers and complement each other perfectly. Agrees that Paarl have gelled together as a squad really well, and that the atmosphere is pleasant, especially with calm heads like Joe Root and Dinesh Karthik. Stresses that he has a learnt a lot from various individuals within the squad.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, after electing to bat, Durban were 3 down by the 7th over, but thanks to a rescue act by Kane Williamson and Marcus Stoinis, they managed to post a competitive 143. Have to say, the turning point was the wicket of Williamson for 45 in the 13th over, because had he stayed on for another 2 overs, probably, Durban would have still been alive. It was another excellent bowling display by Paarl who just continue to maintain their consistency. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

One criticism for Keshav Maharaj might be that the first 10 overs of the chase were all bowled by spinners. Could Maharaj have changed the pace in between? Maybe, at the end of the Powerplay or something? He kept rotating his bowlers but it was all spin and perhaps, an earlier introduction of seam could have changed things. Ironically, all the spinners bowled well and it was the seamers who got the pasting, but still, in T20, you never know, where 1 over can make a huge difference.

Spare a thought for Durban's Super Giants. Season done. Just one win. Just one match to go. Spare a thought for captain Keshav Maharaj who has bowled with an economy of 6.31 in the tournament and picked up 8 wickets. Spare a thought for coach Allan Donald with lots to reflect ahead of the next season. They perhaps would have felt that they could win this game after dismissing Joe Root on the first ball, but after that, though the boundaries were not scored that frequently, there were not too many dot balls.

Purists will argue that Paarl could have finished this way early. They lost Joe Root on the opening ball of the run chase, but then Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann put on a left-hand clinic, with a 91-run stand for the second wicket. At that stage, when Hermann fell for 59, the Royals needed just 53 from 43 balls but a few balls later, they lost Pretorius for 43 and decided to play for caution, than be enterprising. Dinesh Karthik ensured that there was no collapse and helped himself to a few runs as eventually, in some last-minute drama, Paarl maintained their clean slate at home. This is the last match at Paarl, as the playoffs will be played in Gqeberha, Centurion and Johannesburg.

A bit too close for comfort but Paarl Royals will take the win for now. They end their home season with a clean slate, winning 5 out of 5 games here and BECOME THE FIRST TEAM IN SA20 HISTORY TO WIN ALL THEIR MATCHES AT HOME IN A SEASON. They nearly have one foot to reaching confirmation about a top 2 spot, but might have to wait for a day or two.

Okay, the 40th over of the match then. Just 6 to win, or still 6 to win? The camera pans on a pensive Allan Donald and won't blame him if thoughts of that 1999 World Cup semifinal come flooding in his mind. 9 were needed from 6 balls then and the first 2 went for boundaries. And the rest, as they say... is history...

Dayyaan Galiem walks in next at number 6, replacing Dinesh Karthik.

Last over of the match? With JJ Smuts bowling, a high possibility.

A bit of a delay here. Seems to be some issue with Marcus Stoinis. Have to feel for him. Lost his place in the Aussie ODI side, then saw his team Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League getting knocked out in the Knockout, similar to the Eliminator, travels a long way from Australia to South Africa, joins his new team, only to see Durban's Super Giants on the cusp of being knocked out. AND HE IS WALKING OFF. Seems like an ankle niggle and he is going to have that assessed. WIAAN MULDER will complete the over. 1-0-10-0 so far.

Marcus Stoinis returns. 2-0-15-1 so far.