Sunrisers Eastern Cape registered two back-to-back wins over MI Cape Town in the ongoing edition of the SA20 League in Cape Town on Wednesday.
After registering their first win this season over MI on Tuesday (Jan. 17), Sunrisers Eastern Cape pulled off a repeat show to win two matches on the trot. While the win saw MICT slip from the top position to the third place, with two wins from five matches, SUNE remained fifth with two wins from four games.
Newlands Stadium witnessed a thrilling contest as Eastern Cape handed Cape Town a narrow two wicket defeat with just three balls to spare. Once again, Sunrisers won the toss and called it right, as they elected to field first.
Invited to bat first, MI got off to a shaky start as they lost opener Dewald Brevis for just 6. But a strong second-wicket stand between Ryan Rickelton (46) and Grant Roelofsen (56) guided MI to a strong total. The duo put up a century stand, with the pair adding 102 off just 69 deliveries to add to crucial runs.
A twin strike by Ottniel Baartman put Sunrisers right back into the game as they he removed both Rickelton and Roelofsen in the same over. Thereon MI struggled to build partnerships as Sunrisers Eastern Cape ripped through the middle order. Delano Potgieter and Odean Smith’s quickfire knocks saw MI post 171/6.
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The Jansen show
In reply, it was one man who completely took the game away from MI. Though the Sunrisers top order failed to fire and they struggled to build partnerships, Marco Jansen played like he was firing on a different pitch as he guided his win towards a thrilling win.
Coming in at no. 7, when Sunrisers were reeling at 101/6 in 14.1 overs, Jansen lit the Newlands Stadium with a match-winning knock. Scoring at a sizzling strike rate of 244.44, Jansen singlehandedly took the match away from MI Cape Town. Jansen’s 27-ball 66 was peppered with three boundaries and seven sixes.
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Pretoria Capitals down Joburg Super Kings
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In the day’s other match, Pretoria Capitals clinched a comfortable win six-wicket win over Joburg Super Kings. After bowling out the Super Kings for just 122 in 15.4 overs, Capitals chased it down with 42 balls to spare.
After electing to bowl first, Jimmy Neesham and Anrich Nortje set Pretoria up for the win pocketing three wickets each. Neesham’s 3/7 in three overs saw him walk away with the player of the match award as Pretoria clinched a crushing win.
Having restricted the Super Kings to a below par total, the Capitals openers put up a solid show with the willow as the Pretoria Capitals chased down the target in just thirteen overs.
Following the win, PRC is placed on top of the table with three wins from four matches. Meanwhile, Super Kings are languishing at the bottom of the table with just two wins from five games.
