MI Cape Town Wins First-Ever SA20 Title by Defeating Sunrisers Eastern Cape

MI Cape Town has claimed their first-ever SA T20 title after a commanding 76-run victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final. The match took place in Johannesburg, where Cape Town won the toss and opted to bat first.

The opening partnership between the two MI Cape Town openers was brilliant, setting a solid foundation. However, the partnership was broken when Ryan Rickelton was dismissed for 33 runs. After the powerplay, Cape Town had accumulated 52 runs. Another opener, van der Dussen, played a slow-paced innings, scoring 23 runs off 25 balls.

In the middle order, Connor Esteraheijen provided stability, scoring 39 runs off 26 balls. Dewald Brevis made a rapid 38 runs off 18 balls, hitting four sixes. George Linde added 20 runs, including three sixes. Cape Town finished their innings at 181 runs after 20 overs.

For Eastern Cape, Janssen, Richard Gleeson, and Liam Dawson each took two wickets.

Chasing 182 runs, Eastern Cape found themselves in early trouble, losing two wickets for just 8 runs. The third-wicket partnership between Tony de George and Tom Abell stabilized things, as they put together 57 runs off 42 balls. Abell scored 30 runs, and Tony de George made 26 runs.

However, the rest of the lineup failed to contribute significantly. Tristan Stabs made 15 runs, but it wasn’t enough to chase down the target. Eastern Cape were bowled out for just 105 runs, 8 balls before the scheduled end of the innings.

Kagiso Rabada was the star bowler for MI Cape Town, taking 4 wickets for just 25 runs. Trent Boult was named Man of the Match after taking 2 wickets for just 9 runs from 4 overs. Captain Rashid Khan and George Linde both claimed 2 wickets each.

MI Cape Town’s dominant performance saw them lift the trophy and celebrate their maiden SA T20 title.