Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Predictions - Hope to lift Capitals clear at the top of the table
In an exhilarating clash at the top of the table, the Pretoria Capitals will face off against the Paarl Royals with just one point dividing the two teams. The Capitals, led by the outstanding performances of Shai Hope, have regained momentum with three consecutive wins. Meanwhile, the Royals boast a formidable bowling lineup and are looking to leverage their recent victory against the Super Giants. As both teams vie for dominance, the Capitals are favored to win, with Shai Hope as the leading scorer. Key players to watch include Rubin Hermann and Dewald Brevis.
- Shai Hope (235 runs, ave 39.16) is 2nd in the SA20 runs list.
- Rubin Hermann scored 65* off 45 balls against the Super Giants.
- Can the Capitals keep top spot by beating the Royals?
Shai Hope pulls to leg against New Zealand (Getty Images).
Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Predictions
Just one point separates the two sides at the top of the table. The Royals have a game in hand and a win would lift them into top spot. I’m backing the Capitals as they have won their last three matches on the bounce.
- Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Predictions
- Head-to-Head
- Pretoria Capitals Form
- Paarl Royals Form
- Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Team News
- Pretoria Capitals’ Shai Hope has scored 118* and 22 in his last 3 innings.
- Pretoria Capitals’ Sherfane Rutherford scored 53 off 27 balls against MI Cape Town.
- Paarl Royals’ Rubin Hermann has scored 35 & 65* in his last 2 innings.
- Paarl Royals’ David Miller hit four sixes in his 45 against the Capitals.
Head-to-Head
The Capitals have won one and lost four of their last five SA20 matches against the Royals.
Pretoria Capitals Form
The Capitals have turned their season around by winning their last three games on the bounce as they moved up to 1st place on the table.
Shai Hope’s batting form (235 runs, S/R 150.64) has played a major part in driving the Capitals to top spot, scoring 36, 45, 118* and 22 in his last six innings, taking him to second place on the runs list. Sherfane Rutherford is in 5th spot on the runs list with 214 runs at a strike-rate of 178.33.
Gideon Peters is the Capitals’ leading wicket-taker with seven wickets from three games. He has returned figures of 3/35, 1/11 and 3/32 in his three matches. Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj are both on six wickets, the Capitals spinner and captain Maharaj going for just 7.14 runs per over.
Paarl Royals Form
The Royals bounced back from a 21-run defeat to the Capitals by beating the Super Giants by six wickets off the last ball of the match.
The Royals’ batters have been struggling to score consistently, with David Miller their leading scorer on 163 runs (ave 40.75). Lhuan-dre Pretorius hasn’t contributed since his brilliant 98*, but he has the potential to score big at any moment. Asa Tribe has shown promise in his cameos at the top of the order, while Rubin Hermann has stepped up to the plate in his last two innings, scoring 35 and 65*.
The Royals’ bowling attack has driven their great form this season, with Sikandar Raza, Ottneil Baartman and Nqobani Mokoena all on 11 wickets for the season. Raza has had the greatest impact, his 19 overs going for just 5.68 runs per over.
Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals Team News
Pretoria Capitals captain Keshav Maharaj was delighted with his side’s emphatic win over MI Cape Town: "We had a disappointing start to the home leg, so it's great to get back to winning ways. It was an emphatic win that puts us in a strong position on the table. Sherfane has been in sublime form, and we've seen how well he is hitting the ball. We were aiming for 160, so 185 was a great total and the way the guys finished propelled us past that and gave us a nice buffer. In the last two weeks, this team has done the basics well and reaped the rewards," said Maharaj.
Paarl Royals skipper David Miller admitted the race for the playoffs is heating up. “This table is so tight. I have to continually reiterate to the team that every game is so important. We’ve got a good chance of qualifying now. It’s quite a swing going from fifth to second and it will be nice to finish in the top two - that’s our goal, but we have to keep fighting for every run. We’ll take one game at a time,” said Miller.
Pretoria Capitals (squad): Keshav Maharaj (c), Jordan Cox (w), Connor Esterhuizen (w), Daniel Smith (w), Meeka-eel Prince (w), Shai Hope (w), Dewald Brevis, Wihan Lubbe, Sibonelo Makhanya, Sherfane Rutherford, Will Smeed, Roston Chase, Codi Yusuf, Andre Russell, Bryce Parsons, Junaid Dawood, Keith Dudgeon, Tymal Mills, Lungi Ngidi, Gideon Peters and Lizaad Williams.
Paarl Royals (squad): Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dan Lawrence, Kyle Verreynne (w), David Miller (c), Rubin Hermann, Sikandar Raza, Gudakesh Motie, Ottneil Baartman, Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hardus Viljoen, Okuhle Cele, Delano Potgieter, Nqabayomzi Peter, Asa Tribe, Eshan Malinga, Vishen Halambage, Nqobani Mokoena, Keagan Lion Cachet, Thomas Rew.
Verdict
I am backing the Capitals to win, with Shai Hope to top score.
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