MI Cape Town returned to winning ways after doing the double over neighbours Paarl Royals at Boland Park on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Newlands-based team had lost two consecutive matches prior to the trip to the winelands.<\/p>\n
They now return temporarily to second place on 13 points after their tense 13-run victory. The Royals remain in fourth place with nine points after managing just 129\/6 in response to MI Cape Town’s 142\/9.<\/p>\n
It was a match that remained in the balance until the penultimate over with the Royals requiring 23 off the final 12 balls.<\/p>\n
The home team were favourites at that stage with Jos Buttler still at the crease unbeaten on 68.<\/p>\n
But that was when MI Cape Town captain turned to his star bowler Jofra Archer to intervene.<\/p>\n
Archer responded to his MI Cape Town captain’s call by removing his England skipper with the first ball of the penultimate over.<\/p>\n
The Royals could not recover after Buttler’s loss despite Evan Jones and Ferisco Adams swinging with all their might for the final 11 deliveries.<\/p>\n
It was a contest that was evenly balanced throughout. The Royals started in familiar fashion with the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Bjorn Fortuin dismissing both Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton, while also assisting in the run out of Sam Curran to leave MI Cape Town precariously placed at 9\/3.<\/p>\n
The pressure situation was tailor made though for Rassie van der Dussen with the Proteas batter responding with a responsible 49.<\/p>\n
Van der Dussen received solid support from Grant Roelofson (34) and George Linde (24).<\/p>\n
The Royals bowlers stuck to their task throughout with Lungi Ngidi (2\/29), Ferisco Adams (2\/31) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2\/27) all chipping in to restrict MI Cape Town to 142\/9.<\/p>\n
It was sufficient on the day though with George Linde (2\/23), Archer (1\/31), Kagiso Rabada (2\/27) and Rashid Khan (1\/16) ensuring it was the visitors who left with the points.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"