11 days after joining LSG, Nortje condemns Royals to RCB fate as they get bowled out for 49

South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje is reassuring Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) that they made the right call by roping him in and not overbidding for Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana. In Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s SA20 2025-26 opener, Nortje wreaked havoc with a four-wicket haul as Paarl Royals were bowled out for 49, the lowest score in the league’s history. Nortje's economical four-fer ensured Sunrisers register a massive 137-run win at Royals' homeground and boost their net run rate (NNR) early on in the season.

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Royals take wickets after Royals’ slow start

Sunrisers skipper Tristan Stubbs won the toss and opted to bat first. Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow got Sunrisers off to a good start. They were 52 for no loss after powerplay overs. In the ninth over, Ottneil Baartman broke the opening partnership with Bairstow's wicket. The Englishman scored 31 runs from 33 deliveries. De Kock missed out on a fifty. He lost his wicket to Delano Potgieter for a 24-ball 42. Marco Jansen was promoted up the order but was knocked over by Bjorn Fortuin.

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Hermann goers berserk

Matthew Breetzke and Jordan Hermann provided the much-needed acceleration. In the penultimate over, Baartman dismissed Breetzke for a 23-ball 31. Hermann went ballistic in the final over. He hit Potgieter for two fours and two sixes in the final over. Potgieter conceded 22 runs from his last over. Hermann's 28-ball 62 helped Sunrisers post 186/4.

Nortje capitalises after early wickets

Jansen struck early with the new ball, dismissing Lhua-dre Pretorius off the third ball. Adam Milne dismissed Rubin Harmann for a four-ball duck in his first over. In his second over, Milne got the wicket of Vishen Halambage. Asa Tribe found a few boundaries before Nortje got him caught at square leg. After powerplay overs, Royals were 30/4. Kyle Verreynne struggled under pressure and lost his wicket to Senuran Muthusamy in the eighth over for a 17-ball 11.

At the halfway stage, Royals were 46/5. In the 11th over Nortje ruled out any chance of a comeback. He struck thrice to get rid of Potgieter, Fortuin and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. In the next over, Rathnayake wrapped up the proceedings with skipper David Miller and Nqobani Mokoena's wickets. Royals got bowled out for 59 in 11.5 overs. Sunrisers got a bonus point as they won the match by 137 runs, their biggest win by run margin. The previous record for lowest SA20 total was 52, registered by Pretoria Capitals against Sunrisers in January 2024.