MI Cape Town kept their playoff hopes alive with a narrow three-wicket win over Sunrisers Eastern Cape in a pressure-filled SA20 encounter. With qualification on the line and two wins required from their final games, MICT delivered a disciplined bowling display on a tricky, two-paced surface before surviving a nervy run chase.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape never found early momentum after choosing to bat. Trent Boult struck immediately, removing Quinton de Kock off the first ball of the innings. Jonny Bairstow showed early intent with two boundaries and a six, but Kagiso Rabada trapped him lbw in the fourth over. When Matthew Breetzke fell in the sixth, SEC were struggling at 37/3 at the end of the powerplay.
A recovery attempt only took shape after the halfway mark. Despite losing more wickets, SEC were steadied by a 45-run partnership between James Coles and Marco Jansen. Jansen provided the spark with a counterattacking 42 off 23 balls, laced with three fours and four sixes.
MI Cape Town tightened the screws at the death, removing both Coles and Jansen to halt the recovery. SEC could manage only 32 runs in the final five overs and closed on 139/9. Corbin Bosch starred with the ball, returning figures of 4 for 34, while Boult chipped in with 3 for 28.
The chase proved far from straightforward for MICT. Just six runs came from the opening two overs, and both openers were dismissed trying to force the pace. At the end of the powerplay, the hosts were 36/2, mirroring SEC’s struggles. The match stayed evenly balanced until Senuran Muthusamy broke a 33-run stand between Reeza Hendricks and Nicholas Pooran by dismissing the latter in the ninth over.
With the scoring rate lagging, hopes of a bonus-point win faded quickly. George Linde briefly lifted the tempo, smashing Adam Milne for a six and two fours in the 14th over, but his lively 31 off 18 balls ended on the next delivery.
Reeza Hendricks played the anchor role with a measured 41, keeping the chase steady despite scoring at a modest pace. When 26 runs were needed from the final four overs with Hendricks and Kieron Pollard at the crease, MI Cape Town appeared in control. However, late twists followed as Pollard, Jason Smith, and Hendricks fell in quick succession.
Needing just four runs in the final over, Muthusamy overstepped on the second delivery, easing the pressure and allowing MICT to cross the line with four balls remaining to seal a tense three-wicket win.
Brief Scores
Sunrisers Eastern Cape 139/9 (20 overs):
Marco Jansen 42; Corbin Bosch 4/34
MI Cape Town 140/7 (19.2 overs):
Reeza Hendricks 41; Marco Jansen 2/23
MI Cape Town won by 3 wickets
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