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Fire Breaks Out During SA20 Match, Players Scramble for DLS Rules

A fire erupted in the parking area outside Boland Park during an SA20 match between the Paarl Royals and Pretoria Capitals. Firefighters had the blaze under control within a few overs, with no reported injuries or damage, and play was never stopped. The Paarl Royals assistant coach noted the team prepared for a potential DLS interruption due to recent fires near their accommodation. In the match itself, the Pretoria Capitals defended a modest total to secure a victory.

Key Points: Fire Erupts Outside Stadium During SA20 Cricket Match

  • Fire in parking area during match
  • No evacuation or injuries
  • Play continued uninterrupted
  • Pretoria Capitals won the match
2 min read

Fire breaks out outside Boland Park during SA20 match between Paarl Royals and Pretoria Capitals

A fire broke out in the parking lot during an SA20 match in Paarl. Play continued as firefighters controlled the blaze. No injuries reported.

"We were scrambling for DLS in case we had to get off the field. - Richard das Neves"

Paarl, January 11

A fire broke out outside the Boland Park during the SA20 2025-26 match between Paarl Royals and Pretoria Capitals on January 10 in Paarl, as per ESPNcricinfo.

The fire started in the parking area on the western side of the venue during the fourth over of the match. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by the seventh over and no damage or injuries were reported.

Paarl Royals assistant coach Richard das Neves said the team had noticed the fire and briefly prepared for a possible interruption under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, especially in light of recent fires reported near the team's accommodation.

"We did notice it. There have been a few fires around Pearl Valley (the accommodation used by Paarl Royals) in the last week or so. We were scrambling for DLS in case we had to get off the field. But if there's anywhere in the world where the firefighters know what they're doing, it's here," das Neves said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Spectators were not asked to evacuate the stadium and play continued uninterrupted as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. After the fire was brought under control, visuals from the venue showed scorched ground, with smoke having surrounded parts of the stadium earlier.

Coming to the match, Pretoria Capitals registered their third victory of the ongoing season as Paarl Royals faced their second loss.

Capitals captain Keshav Maharaj won the toss and elected to bat first. With the help of Sherfane Rutherford's 42, the visitors managed to score 138/9 in 20 overs as Paarl Royals' Sikandar Raza, Hardus Viljoen and Dan Lawrence each claimed two wickets.

Chasing 139, the Royals could only manage 117/6 in 20 overs despite contributions from captain David Miller (45) and Rubin Hermann (35). Keshav Maharaj (2-14 in 4 overs) was the star with the ball for the Royals, while others also chipped in with wickets.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
This is a bit concerning. The assistant coach mentioned there have been "a few fires" around their accommodation recently. Is this just a coincidence or something more? The authorities should definitely look into it. Safety of players and spectators is paramount.
K
Karthik V
As a cricket fan, I'm just glad the game wasn't interrupted! DLS can be such a lottery. Tough loss for the Royals though, their batting lineup needs to step up. Miller tried his best. Hope the fire situation in Paarl is under control now.
S
Sarah B
The professionalism here is commendable. The teams were prepared with DLS calculations, the firefighters acted swiftly, and the spectators didn't need to panic or evacuate. A textbook example of handling an unexpected crisis during a live sporting event.
A
Aman W
Fire in the parking area... hopefully no vehicles were damaged. Car fires can spread fast. Big shoutout to the ground staff and security for keeping everyone calm and informed. The visuals of smoke around the stadium must have been scary for a moment!
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Nikhil C
While the handling was good, I have a respectful criticism. Should spectators really *not* have been asked to evacuate, even as a precaution? What if the wind had changed direction? Sometimes safety protocols should err on the side of caution, even if it interrupts play.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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