Root stars as Paarl win with record SA20 chase
- Published
Joe Root made an unbeaten 92 off 60 balls as Paarl Royals chased a tournament-high 213 to beat Pretoria Capitals by eight wickets in the SA20.
Root hit 11 fours and two sixes and was supported by Rubin Hermann (56 off 33) and David Miller (48* off 24) as Paarl won with two balls to spare.
It beats the previous highest chase of 204 by Joburg Super Kings against Durban's Super Giants in 2024.
Root, who has not played a T20 for England since 2019, is the second highest run-scorer in this year's SA20 with 195 runs, at an average of 97.5 and strike-rate of 146.62.
Asked if he was enjoying the tournament, Root told Sky Sports: "I am. It is a great tournament, great to be a part of and great to play some T20 cricket."
Root will play in the majority of the group stage before joining England's 50-over squad for their tour of India and the Champions Trophy that follows.
Capitals had posted 212-5 with Will Smeed making 54 off 34 balls, but Will Jacks was out for nine off eight balls.
Saturday's other game saw MI Cape Town thrash Joburg Super Kings by seven wickets.
Ryan Rickelton crashed 89 off 39 balls as Cape Town chased 173 in 15.5 overs to secure a bonus-point win.
Joburg had posted 172-5 with Faf Du Plessis making 61 off 38 and Jonny Bairstow 43 not out off 27.
Cape Town lead the six-team table from Paarl and Joburg. Pretoria and Durban's Super Giants are fourth and fifth with two-time winners Sunrisers Eastern Cape bottom.
