SA20: Trent Boult masterclass guides MI Cape Town to dominating win over SunRisers Easter Cape in inaugural game
Defending champions SunRisers Eastern Cape were thrashed by MI Cape Town in the inaugural game of the 3rd edition of SA20. Playing at the St George’s Oval on Thursday, January 9, MI hammered SunRisers by 97 runs – the fifth-biggest margin of defeat in the competition’s history.
Chasing 175 runs in the first game of the season, SunRisers were brought to the knees by MI’s Trent Boult, who bowled a double-wicket maiden in the very first over. MI capitalised on Boult’s powerplay exploits and doubled down on Eastern Cape.
South African all-rounder Delano Potgieter picked up his best figures in the competition, registering a 5-wicket haul.
MI Cape Town vs SunRisers Eastern Cape: As It Happened
Cape Town’s innings got off to a shaky start after they were put in to bat, with opener Reeza Hendricks dismissed for a duck off just three balls. However, Rassie van der Dussen steadied the ship, playing a composed knock of 16 off 15 balls. The middle order then stepped up, with contributions from Connor Esterhuizen (22), Colin Ingram (22), and George Linde (23). Dewald Brevis was the star of the innings, blasting 57 runs off 28 balls, including six sixes, as Cape Town recovered to a competitive total.
Delano Potgieter finished with an unbeaten 25 from 12 balls to push Cape Town’s total further. Despite the early setbacks, Cape Town’s ability to recover and keep the scoreboard ticking proved crucial. Richard Gleeson claimed 2/22, while Liam Dawson chipped in with 1/32, but it was Brevis’ explosive hitting that gave the team the necessary momentum to post a total that would prove far too much for Eastern Cape.
In reply, Eastern Cape’s chase never gained traction. Trent Boult struck early, dismissing English duo Zak Crawley (12 off 14 balls) and Tom Abell (0 off 1) in consecutive deliveries. The Sunrisers’ top order collapsed quickly under pressure, with Aiden Markram (19) and Jordan Hermann (4) failing to make a significant impact. As the wickets kept tumbling, MI Cape Town’s bowlers remained relentless.
Boult finished with impressive figures of 2/16, while Azmatullah Omarzai and George Linde each took a wicket. However, it was Delano Potgieter’s all-round brilliance that stole the show. Potgieter claimed 5 wickets for just 10 runs, the second-best bowling figures in SA20 history, as Eastern Cape were bowled out for just 77 runs – their second-lowest total in the tournament’s history and a heavy blow to their title defense.
The margin of victory earned MI Cape Town a bonus point, as their run rate was 1.25 times that of Eastern Cape, further underlining the dominance of their performance. The 97-run defeat was the fifth-heaviest in SA20 history, leaving the defending champions with much to ponder ahead of their next fixture.
With this dominant victory, MI Cape Town sent a strong message to the rest of the competition. As the tournament continues, all eyes will be on the likes of Chris Woakes and Liam Livingstone, who could be in action as Durban’s Super Giants take on Pretoria Capitals on Friday.
