By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Ryan Rickelton made history at the Wanderers when he became the first batter in the Betway SA20 to score multiple centuries with an unbeaten 113 (60 balls, 8×4, 9×6) to lift MI Cape Town to 234/3 before George Linde (2/30) and Kagiso Rabada (2/34) dismantled JSK’s top-order to power MI Cape Town to a resounding 36-run win.
Fellow opener Rassie van der Dussen also played his part, striking 65 off 32 balls (four fours, six sixes) that set up the visitors’ innings. He and Rickelton rekindled memories of their record 200-run opening stand at the Bullring two seasons ago with another power-packed 129-run partnership in just 10.2 overs.
MI Cape Town’s power-hitters Nicholas Pooran and Jason Smith failed to capitalise on the platform, but Rickelton was not going to let the early work go to waste as he blasted Nandre Burger for consecutive fours and a towering six to bring up a terrific century off just 55 balls.
He found an able partner in Afghanistan international Karim Janat, who blasted an 11-ball 20 not out at the death.
JSK’s run-chase was hampered after their captain Faf du Plessis could not bat. As a result, Englishman Michael Pepper was promoted to open the innings but his SA20 debut innings did not last long after Rabada successfully reviewed a caught behind at the start of the third over.
Rabada and Linde wrecked JSK’s top order with Matthew de Villiers and Wiaan Mulder falling in the powerplay.
It was not until James Vince was joined by rising star Dian Forrester did JSK begin to eat into the target with a 66-run fourth-wicket partnership.
But after Vince’s dismissal for 77 off 43 balls (10 fours, three sixes), it was left to young Forrester to shoulder the responsibility on his own.
The 25-year-old left-hander was ultimately not able to take his team over the line, but will no doubt take plenty of confidence from his 42-ball 80* (four fours, five sixes) into JSK’s remaining matches.
The victory lifted MI Cape Town off the bottom of the table for the first time this season and are now in fifth position with 10 points after successive El Clasico derby victories.
The Capitals, meanwhile, rallied on the back of some outstanding bowling to defend their below par total to pull off a heist against Paarl Royals at a steaming Boland Park.
The Capitals’ 138/9 looked about 20 runs short on Saturday afternoon but Lungi Ngidi (1/35), Lizaad Williams (1/21), Wihan Lubbe (1/20), Gideon Peters (1/11), Keshav Maharaj (2/14) all contributed with the ball to restrict the Royals to 117/6 to earn a 21-run victory.
The Capitals are now joined with the Royals on 15 points, but the Centurion side are placed higher in third position due to their superior 0.016 Net Run-Rate (NRR). The Royals have played one game less, but have a NRR of -1.075.