The Pretoria Capitals became the first team to reach the inaugural Betway SA20 final after they secured a 29-run victory against the Paarl Royals at the Wanderers in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Rossouw kept the Capitals’ innings going with 56 runs off 41 balls as the table-toppers scored 153/8 after the Royals put them in.

It was not a good surface for smooth strokeplay, so Rossouw had to hold back his natural attacking style after the Royals spinners Bjorn Fortuin (1/24) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2/19) got off to a good start.

During the middle period, Royals all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo (3/29) kept up the pressure, but Rossouw hit a few boundaries to keep the score going.

At halftime, both teams were doing about the same, but Eathan Bosch’s first ball gave the Capitals a great start.

England’s first batter, Jason Roy, was out with the second ball that Bosch (2/22) threw at the Royals. But then Bosch gave what might have been the best moment of the game when he bowled Jos Buttler (13) clean in the next over.

The Royals were 13/2 and would have to work harder from now on. Rossouw used his golden arm to catch Eoin Morgan on the cover boundary, making the challenge even harder.

David Miller, who was the captain of the Boland Park team, was their last chance. As long as Miller was at the batting crease, anything could happen, especially when they only needed 30 runs off the last 12 balls with two wickets left.

But when Anrich Nortje went back into the attack in the penultimate over, Miller was caught on the square-leg boundary. Colin Ingram then took a great catch off Tabraiz Shamsi to end the game and start the Capitals’ celebrations.

The Capitals will play either Joburg Super Kings or Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final on Saturday at the Wanderers. Who they play will depend on who wins the second semi-final between Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Centurion on Thursday.

Photo by Dominic Barnardt/Sportzpics/SA20/BackpagePix