Cricket
MI Cape Town cruise into SA20 final─── MORGAN PIEK 09:44 Wed, 05 Feb 2025
MI Cape Town are into the final of the SA20 for the first time after beating the Paarl Royals by 39 runs in Gqeberha on Tuesday night.
Cape Town batted first in Qualifier 1 at St George’s Park and scored 199/4 in their allotted 20 overs, with Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis each scoring 44. Rassie van der Dussen contributed 40 as he and Rickelton put on an 87-run partnership for the first wicket in 9.2 overs.
Dunith Wellalage was the pick of the Royals’ bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/23 in 4 overs, while Bjorn Fortuin and Dayyaan Galiem each took one wicket.
Rashid Khan and Ryan Rickelton. Photo: Cricinfo
In reply, captain David Miller scored 45 as the Royals were bowled out for 160 in 19.4 overs. Dinesh Karthik added 31, but neither he nor Miller received much support from the other batters.
Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the MI Cape Town bowlers with figures of 2/18. Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, and Corbin Bosch each claimed two wickets as well.
Rabada said they are aiming for more of the same in the final at the Wanderers on Saturday. “It would have been first prize not to play another game heading into the final,” said Rabada.
“So we’re glad that we ticked that off. We’re not taking anything for granted. It was a great start with the bat by Ryan and Rassie, and then well followed by our middle order. So yeah, everyone’s ready to play.
“That’s what we saw today, especially with the ball. I thought under pressure, we responded well. We’ve been doing that all tournament. So hopefully we do that in the final.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday at 17:30, the Joburg Super Kings will face the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at SuperSport Park in the Eliminator. They will get to face the Royals in Centurion tomorrow in Qualifier 2, while the loser on Wednesday will be eliminated.
