DESPITE the loss to MI Cape Town in the first qualifier of the SA20 earlier this week, Paarl Royals all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem emphasised that the team are still in a good space.
Having lost in Gqeberha on Tuesday night, the Royals will now play in the Qualifier 2 at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday, with the encounter – against the winner of Wednesday night’s eliminator between Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape – scheduled to get underway at 5.30pm.
The 28-year-old highlighted the abundance of knowledge of the conditions at Centurion within the Royals team as an advantage going into the fixture.
Galiem himself, along with a few other Royals players, play their domestic cricket at the ground – something the 28-year-old reckons will play into their hands on Thursday.
“The team still is in a good space,” said Galiem. “Pretoria is a special place for me. I play most of my cricket there as well.
“A few of us know the conditions. One of our coaches is actually the head coach of the Titans (Richard das Neves), so we’ll definitely come together, see what we can find about night games, and try and favour towards those decisions we do make – whether it’s an extra seamer or extra spinner.
“Whatever we do, what is important is for us to start off well and bring the intensity. We are the type of team where when we’ve brought our intensity, we’ve done very well.”
Reflecting on the 39-run loss that the Royals suffered in the first Qualifier against MI Cape Town in Gqeberha on Tuesday, Galiem highlighted their lack of intensity as one of their downfalls.
The Cape Town-born all-rounder admitted that they were flat in the field at St George’s Park, and did not have the best of starts and finishes with the ball – a set of traits that led to their loss.
Galiem claimed 1/28 in 2.1 overs, with the pick of the Royals attack being Sri Lankan Dunith Wellalage with 2/23 in four overs as MI Cape Town smashed 199/4 in their innings.
Paarl replied with 160 in 19.4 overs, with Galiem coming in at No 4 for 12 off 16 balls.
Backing each other till the very last second. 💗 pic.twitter.com/vz4hG45moq
— Paarl Royals (@paarlroyals) February 5, 2025
“It started with our bowling. I thought we were a touch flat. Coming into the game, there were probably a bit of nerves. We could have been a bit better to start, and those last two overs as well, we travelled a little bit,” said Galiem.
“Those are the two areas I’m sure the guys will be looking at. Luckily we have another opportunity, because we’ve played such good cricket over the past month.
“And now it’s coming down to Thursday and hopefully Saturday (in the final against MI Cape Town) as well.
“They bowled well, they hit good lengths, and you could feel the intensity of the team as well.”
Known as one of the high-scoring grounds in the country, Thursday’s encounter is expected to be an entertaining one as both teams will be hoping to join MI Cape Town in the final at the Wanderers on Saturday.