Paarl Royals vs Durban Super Giants Prediction & Match Preview – SA20 23rd Match
Match summary
Paarl Royals host Durban Super Giants at Boland Park on 13 January 2026 in SA20. Form, likely XIs, pitch, weather and expected scores in our preview.
Match details
| Match | Paarl Royals vs Durban Super Giants, 23rd Match |
|---|---|
| Series | SA20 2025-26 |
| Date | 13 Jan 2026 |
| Start time | 3:30 pm GMT / 5:30 pm local |
| Venue | Boland Park, Paarl |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Durban Super Giants |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Paarl Royals and Durban Super Giants meet at Boland Park in Paarl on Tuesday 13 January in the 23rd match of SA20 2025-26, with the latter still trying to stay in the playoff race.
The Royals were beaten at home in their last game, unable to chase a modest 139 even though captain David Miller made 45 and Rubin Hermann 35. The loss moved them to fourth, so they now need to win their next two matches to secure a top-four finish, and probably three to challenge for the top two.
Durban finally ended a run of six matches without a win, with a two-wicket victory over table-topping Sunrisers. Restricting them to 158 for 5 was helped by Sunil Narine and Noor Ahmad, and in the chase Aiden Markram made 25 off 13 and Marques Ackerman 45 before the lower order finished it with three balls to spare from 137 for 7. Both of their remaining games are against Paarl, so Markram’s start and Ackerman’s support, along with Liam Livingstone, Narine and Noor in the middle overs, could put the Royals’ batting under real pressure.
Boland Park usually offers a balanced T20 surface. It can start a little slow, so batters need time before playing freely, but once set the true bounce helps stroke-making. Quick bowlers can find early help with a good length and variations, while spinners often come into the game in the middle overs as the surface grips. Big scores are not automatic, so shot selection and partnerships are important.
At the 5:30 pm local start it should be clear and warm at about 28–30 °C, with plenty of sunshine, very little cloud and no meaningful chance of rain. A light breeze may develop later in the evening.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 140–155 | – |
| Second innings | 135–150 | – |
Durban Super Giants
Durban ended a six-match winless run and have a spin trio of Livingstone, Narine and Noor suited to the Paarl surface, plus Markram in good touch.
FAQ
How did Paarl Royals lose their last match?
They fell short chasing a modest 139 at home, despite David Miller’s 45 and Rubin Hermann’s 35, which dropped them to fourth place.
What is Durban’s situation?
They ended a six-match winless run with a two-wicket win over the leaders, Sunrisers. Two games remain, both against Paarl, and they still have an outside playoff chance.
Which Durban bowlers could matter at Paarl?
Spin trio Liam Livingstone, Sunil Narine and Noor Ahmad could be decisive on a surface that tends to help spin in the middle overs.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Paarl Royals
- Lhuan-dre Pretoriuswk
- Asa Tribe
- Rubin Hermann
- Dan Lawrence
- David Millerc
- Sikandar Raza
- Delano Potgieter
- Hardus Viljoen
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Bjorn Fortuin
- Nqobani Mokoena
Durban Super Giants
- Aiden Markramc
- Marques Ackerman
- Jos Buttler
- David Bedingham
- Heinrich Klaasenwk
- Liam Livingstone
- Evan Jones
- Gerald Coetzee
- Sunil Narine
- Kwena Maphaka
- Noor Ahmad