Cape Town, Jan. 5 -- A team that was all but obliterated in the SA20, South Africa's premier franchise-based T20 tournament, in a humiliating 49 all out in their opening match, has staged a remarkable turnaround. It's won three matches in a row, which has now propelled it to the second position in the fourth edition of the SA20-South Africa's IPL twin. Their secret sauce? A strong spin game, and orchestrating it is all-rounder Sikandar Raza, for whom the turnaround strikes a personal note as well, seeing as he is back in the field close on the heels of a devastating personal loss.

Paarl Royals has edged up remarkably after 13 matches in the ongoing tournament. The revival has been built on a familiar blueprint, one that powered the Royal...