Defending champions MI Cape Town revitalised their SA20 playoff chances with a three-wicket win over Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Pretoria Capitals (20 points), Sunrisers (24 points), and Paarl Royals (24 points) have
already secured playoff spots.
MI Cape Town (14 points) dominated the match from the start when Trent Boult dismissed an in-form Quinton de Kock with the very first ball of the innings, limiting Eastern Cape to 139 for 9.
The Cape Town side maintained the pressure, with Boult regaining his form, taking 3/28, and Corbin Bosch finishing with 4/34.
Sunrisers’ batters struggled on the two-paced Newlands pitch, except for Marco Jansen, who played freely.
The tall all-rounder hit four sixes and three boundaries in his 23-ball 48, and with James Coles’ steady 28 off 27 balls, the Sunrisers reached 139/9 in their 20 overs.
Jansen carried his batting form into the MI Cape Town innings, dismissing both Rassie van der Dussen and the in-form Ryan Rickelton during the Powerplay, giving Sunrisers a good start.
However, Reeza Hendricks (41 off 43 balls) played a crucial anchor role, ensuring MI Cape Town inched closer to the target despite losing wickets.
All-rounder George Linde scored a brisk 31 off 18 balls, and new import Kieron Pollard added 20 off 14, keeping Sunrisers in the contest.
The situation became tense when Hendricks was dismissed off the final ball of the penultimate over, caught at deep cover off Anrich Nortje, leaving MI Cape Town needing four runs off the final over.
Sunrisers’ all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy (2/25) overstepped, giving Bosch a free hit, which he used to close out the game.
(With agency inputs)
