MI Cape Town (MICT) got off to a perfect start in SA20 Season 3 on Thursday by defeating the defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) by a commanding 97 runs at a sold-out St George’s Park. Even though thousands of people had gathered to welcome home the back-to-back champions, MICT’s exceptional performance disappointed the Orange Army.
That night, Robin Peterson’s MICT team dominated the game in every way. Trent Boult and Delano Potgieter combined to dismiss the Sunrisers for 77, while Dewald Brevis scored a blazing 57 off just 29 balls (2×4; 6×6) to help the visitors reach 174/7. Even though Potgieter achieved the fantastic career-best figures of 5/10, it was the New Zealand international Boult (2/16) who set the tone with an amazing new-ball performance that resulted in a double-wicket maiden third over.
Due to his extraordinary skill, the 35-year-old opened the England Test for Sunrisers with a spectacular swing of the new ball back into the right-hander. Boult showed that he will be an asset to the League overall and to the MICT club in particular. At every league venue around the country, his extraordinary talent level is guaranteed to attract attention.
Since the start of SA20, MI Cape Town have never defeated the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in five tries.
Brevis naturally played a big role in the victory, since the Rising Star’s performance in the competition opener at Newlands two seasons ago was a key component.
The 21-year-old smashed the ball cleanly and with great form right away. Before striking seamer Beyers Swanepoel with successive sixes, he had to first contend with the twin spin of Liam Dawson and Simon Harmer. The first individual to enter the Season 3 Catch R2-million challenge, Christopher Moolman, one-handedly grabbed Brevis’ half-dozen sixes in the crowd.
Despite MICT lost Brevis going into the final five overs, Potgieter (25 not out, 12 balls) and George Linde (23 not out, 17 balls) maintained the pace with a continuous 41-run partnership. The two handed MICT the lead they would never relinquish after taking 24 runs off Sunrisers’ final over, bowled by Marco Jansen.
On Saturday, Sunrisers will attempt to bounce back against the Paarl Royals at Boland Park, while MICT will look to continue their winning run against the Johannesburg Super Kings at the Wanderers.
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