Baartman became just the second bowler in SA20 history to grab a hat-trick after Pretoria Capitals (PC) seamer Lungi Ngidi achieved the feat just last week against Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead.

The Capitals won the toss and chose to bat first and were 30 without loss after three overs, with 14 of those runs being extras. But when Baartman came into the attack, he struck with his first and second ball. 

Hat-trick

Connor Esterhuizen stepped out looking to heave across the line, but was bowled by a short-of-a-length ball that shaped back in. Next ball, Jordan Cox went across to try and nudge, but was trapped in front by another ball seaming in.

Wihan Lubbe denied Baartman a hat-trick in the fourth over, but the latter eventually got it in the 19th.  It allowed the 32-year-old to move past his former Sunrisers Eastern Cape teammate Marco Jansen as the leading bowler in the League’s history with 57 wickets.

Ottneill Baartman. Photo: Facebook (Paarl Royals)

Baartman, who wasn’t included in the Proteas’ T20 World Cup squad said although he is disappointed not to have been picked, the World Cup is a different kettle of fish. 

The Capitals struggled to put runs on the board and were all out for just 127. Only four batters managed to get double figures – Shai Hope (25 off 34), Dewald Brevis (21 off 20), Sherfane Rutherford (29 off 20) and Andre Russell (15 off 11) – with none of them getting past 30.

This proved no problem for Royals’ batters. Lhuan-dré Pretorius (1 off 3) and Asa Tribe (5 off 9) once again failed to get going with the bat, but Rubin Herman (46 off 29), Dan Lawrence (41 off 32) and David Miller (28 not out off 16) comfortably chased down the total with six wickets and 4.1 overs to spare.

Royals now join Sunrisers Eastern Cape as the two teams to have already secured their playoff berths.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg