Player of the Match Kagiso Rabada stars as Cape Town outfit record second win
MI Cape Town returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 33-run victory over neighbours Paarl Royals in the first instalment of the Betway SA20 Cape derby at Newlands.
Newlands, which was filled to capacity for MI Cape Town’s first home game of Season 3, was an image of splendour on Monday evening with the sun setting gloriously over Table Mountain.
It was the perfect setting for the home team to deliver a near-perfect all-round performance.
New signing Reeza Hendricks led the way with the bat with his first half-century for the men in blue and gold. Hendricks played with all the panache that has earned him a reputation as one of the finest T20 batters in the land.
His 59 off 37 balls provided the foundation for the home side to post a formidable 172/7. Hendricks was ably supported by Rassie van der Dussen (43 off 33 balls) as the pair shared a 78-run partnership off 54 balls before the in-form Delano Potgieter smashed another 18-ball 29 to provide the late innings momentum.
The Royals’ run-chase began in positive fashion with Joe Root (26) and rising star Lhuan-dre Pretorius (26) scoring 38 runs in just the three overs.
However, the introduction of Kagiso Rabada into the MI Cape Town attack reaped immediate rewards with the fast bowler dismissing both Root and Pretorius within a couple of overs of each other.
It was even more remarkable due to both being wicket maiden overs from Rabada, the first time a bowler has bowled two maidens in the PowerPlay in Betway SA20 history.
The Royals never recovered from the double blow with MI Cape Town’s spin twins George Linde and Rashid Khan weaving a web around the visitors’ middle-order.
Linde bowled beautifully to finish with figures of 3/15, while Rashid claimed 2/28.
The two Western Cape sides will go head-to-head again in the rematch of the Cape Town derby on Wednesday at Boland Park in Paarl.
images provided by CSA
Pretorius the big hit in the Cape derby win for Paarl Royals
Rising star Lhuan-dre Pretorius is fast making himself an instant Betway SA20 hero, scoring a second blazing half-century
Paarl Royals captain David Miller celebrates hitting the winning runs
Rising star Lhuan-dre Pretorius is fast making himself an instant Betway SA20 hero, scoring a second blazing half-century in Paarl Royals’ Cape derby win over neighbours MI Cape Town at Boland Park on Wednesday evening.
Pretorius smashed three sixes and eight boundaries in 52-ball 83 to follow up his 97 on debut at the same ground.
The 18-year-old has certainly become a fan favourite of the Royals in quick time.
Chasing down MI Cape Town’s 158/4, Pretorius benefitted from two dropped catches to power the home team to victory by six wickets to avenge Monday night’s defeat at Newlands.
The powerful left-hander struck the ball sweetly all around Boland Park but was particularly severe on left-arm spinner George Linde with a couple of sixes over the leg-side boundary.
Pretorius’ innings was only ended through a magnificent piece of fielding from MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan, who threw the stumps down with a direct hit.
But Pretorius had already done the major damage which allowed Royals skipper David Miller to comfortably take his team over the line with an undefeated 22.
MI Cape Town had earlier battled towards a competitive total due to Rassie van der Dussen’s 91 not out off 64 balls (5×4, 5×6).
Reeza Hendricks provided support with a solid 30, but once he was clean bowled for the second time by Royals mystery spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman the home team took control.
Mujeeb (2/27) along with Sri Lankan debutant Dunith Wellalage (0/17) and Joe Root (1/24) utilised the spin friendly conditions to their advantage as they tightened the noose around the MI Cape Town middle-order.
It proved to be the difference on the night as the Royals moved into joint second place with the Joburg Super Kings on eight points. MI Cape Town remains top of the table with nine points, but have played one game more than their two closest rivals.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape return to winning ways at Kingsmead
Tom Abell and the bowlers lead the defending champions to a commanding 58-run triumph over Durban’s Super Giants.
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape have returned to winning ways with a 58-run bonus point victory over Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead.
The defending champions were desperate to kickstart their Season 3 campaign after three defeats.
Aiden Markram’s team responded to the rallying call from their skipper with a much-improved performance with the bat after he won the toss and opted to take the first strike.
England international Zak Crawley provided the early momentum with a 29-ball 34 before fellow Englishman Tom Abell crafted a 39-ball 57 (5×4) to maintain the momentum through the middle-order.
Marco Jansen, who was fresh off a half-century in the last match, again provided the late flourish with 36 not out off 26 balls. The lanky allrounder shared an unbroken partnership of 24 off 13 balls with Tristan Stubbs (15 not out off eight balls) to lift the Sunrisers to 165/5.
Mystery spinner Noor Ahmad was the Super Giants’ most successful bowler with figures of 4/24.
The Super Giants’ reply started in a positive fashion with opener Bryce Parsons and Matthew Breetzke putting on 40 for the first wicket.
However, the pair were involved in a horrible mix-up which led to Parsons being run out for 23 off 21 balls.
The Super Giants never quite recovered from thereon with left-arm spinner Liam Dawson utilising the spin-friendly conditions at Kingsmead to his advantage.
The Englishman showed his experience by having Kane Williamson (3) caught and bowled before trapping Breetzke (21) plumb in front to finish with 2/18 from his four overs.
Dawson received solid support from fellow spinner Simon Harmer, who claimed the big wicket of Season 2 MVP Heinrich Klaasen for just one.
Despite a couple of dropped catches that delayed the inevitable, the Sunrisers seamers completed a brilliant all round bowling performance with Richard Gleeson and Ottneil Baartman both chipping in with 2/17 to dismiss the Super Giants for just 107.
The two sides will go head-to-head again in a rematch at St George’s Park (3:30pm start) on Sunday.