McCoy helps spark Royals third consecutive win

PAARL, South Africa, CMC – West Indies left-arm pacer Obed McCoy outperformed West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd and helped Paarl Royals to sevenwicket win against Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 yesterday.

McCoy grabbed two for 31 from three overs, but Lungi Ngidi was the bowling hero for the Royals with three for 17 from 3.5 overs, and JSK were bowled out for 134 in 19.5 overs after they chose to bat in the match at Boland Park.

Shepherd was dismissed for a six-ball duck in the JSK innings, and he conceded 10 in one wicket-less over before Royals, led by 70 not out from England T20 international captain Jos Buttler, overhauled the target with 35 balls remaining.

The result meant that the Royals maintained their perfect start to the tournament with their third consecutive victory, while JSK remain winless after four matches.

Unlike in previous matches at Boland Park where the spinners have dominated, the Royals pacers set up the win.

McCoy set things in motion when he got opener Reeza Hendricks caught behind eight before Ngidi got into the act in the final over of the Power Play.

The South Africa international pacer, the leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far, pegged back the men in yellow with two wickets off successive balls when he bowled former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis for nine before he got debutant Wayne Madsen caught at third man for a first-ball duck.

McCoy followed up when he got England international Moeen Ali caught at short third man in the 11th over, and JSK were wobbling on 69 for four.

Shepherd was lbw to Andile Phehlukwayo in the 14th over, and JSK were 78 for five, and they never fully recovered with Ngidi returning in the closing stages to claim the scalp of Lizaad Williams for two.

JSK also endured three run outs, including Leus du Plooy off the penultimate ball of the innings for the top score of 71 off 43 balls.

Buttler, keeping wicket for the Royals, was pivotal to the run outs, throwing down the stumps on two occasions with the visitors’ batsmen trying to steal singles.

He returned to mastermind the Royals run-chase, hitting eight fours and three sixes from 37 balls, and they got over the line after he shared an 87-run stand for the second with Wihan Luube, whose 39 off 30 balls included two fours and three sixes.