Sunrisers Eastern Cape flex their all-round strength to knock out defending champions MI Cape Town
Defending champions MI Cape Town saw their title defence come to a grinding halt on Sunday afternoon as Sunrisers Eastern Cape once again underlined why they remain the most dominant side in SA20 history. Playing at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, the table-toppers delivered a comprehensive performance to eliminate the holders with a seven-wicket win.
MI Cape Town entered the contest clinging to faint qualification hopes despite a miserable campaign that had already seen them lose five matches on the bounce. But against a ruthless Sunrisers outfit, those hopes never truly ignited. Batting first, MI CT were restricted to a modest 148 for 6, with nearly half of the runs coming from Reeza Hendricks, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 70 off 44 balls.
A major turning point came through the impact of Chris Green, whose journey across continents proved more than worthwhile. Just two nights earlier, Green had been bowling for Sydney Thunder in Australia. By Sunday, he was donning Sunrisers orange and dismantling MI Cape Town with a decisive three-wicket haul after being brought on early by skipper Tristan Stubbs.
Green struck first by removing the tournament’s most prolific batter, Ryan Rickelton, trapping him leg before in the fourth over. After being held back, he returned in the 10th to break a budding partnership between Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen, beating van der Dussen with a sharply turning delivery to crash into the stumps.
Spin continued to hurt MI Cape Town as left-armer James Coles outfoxed Nicholas Pooran, who missed a slog sweep and was bowled for just two. Green returned before the death overs and claimed his third wicket, although not before George Linde launched him for three consecutive sixes. Linde’s brisk 30 off 17 provided MI CT with something to defend, but it was never going to be enough.
In reply, Quinton de Kock and Matthew Breetzke made light work of the chase. After Kagiso Rabada removed Jonny Bairstow early, the pair stitched together a match-defining 109-run stand. Their approach was measured rather than explosive, ensuring the required rate never spiralled out of control.
With 40 needed off the final four overs, Pooran rolled the dice by attacking Trent Boult, but the move backfired as 15 runs came off the over. Corbin Bosch briefly raised MI CT’s hopes by dismissing de Kock, but when Rabada returned with 17 required from 12 balls, Breetzke and Jordan Hermann ensured the game slipped away.
Even a late wicket in the final over couldn’t change the outcome, as Sunrisers Eastern Cape sealed victory with a ball to spare, emphatically ending MI Cape Town’s title defence.
Brief Scores:
MI Cape Town 148/6 in 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 70*, George Linde 30; Chris Green 3/29)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape 149/3 in 19.5 overs (Matthew Breetzke 66, Quinton de Kock 56; Corbin Bosch 2/29)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape won by 7 wickets
