David Miller and the Paarl Royals spoil Sunrisers' St George's Park New Year's Eve party

Paarl Royals captain David Miller spoiled the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s New Years Eve party at St George’s Park to drive his team to their first victory of the Betway SA20 Season 4. 

Miller led from the front with a heroic 71 not out (38 balls, 4x4, 5x6) as the Royals chased down the Sunrisers' 149 all out with two balls to spare in a thrilling contest. 

The skipper came to the crease after nervy start that saw Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje tear through the Royals' top-order to leave the visitors in trouble at 35/4 with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Asa Tribe, Rubin Hermann and Kyle Verreynne back in the hut. 

But Miller showed all his experience, and joined by another rookie Keagan Lion-Cachet (45 off 40 balls, the pair shared a 114-run stand for the fifth wicket to take the Royals to the brink before Lewis Gregory delivered a wide to send the Orange Army home in tears.

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s innings was a stop-start affair. 

The in-form Quinton de Kock was the first to depart, caught behind off the impressive Nqobani Mokoena. 

The 19–year-old Paarl Royals seamer bounced back from an indifferent Betway SA20 debut a couple of days ago to showcase his potential with career-best figures of 4/34. 

De Kock’s opening partner Jonny Bairstow tried to create the early momentum, but after he fell for 33 off 20 balls the home team’s innings fell away. 

Jordan Herman also tried valiantly with 47 off 35 balls, but former Sunrisers Eastern Cape stalwart Ottneil Baartman enjoyed a happy return to St George’s Park with his new team to claim 3/36 as the home team faltered to 149 all out. 

SCOREBOARD

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: 149 all out (Hermann 47, Bairstow 33, Mokoena 4/34, Baartman 3/36)

Paarl Royals: 150/5 (Miller 71*, Lion-Cachet 45, Nortje 2/21, Jansen 2/45)

Paarl Royals won by five wickets