By Neil Manthorp.
@MICapeTown.
A century from Rassie van der Dussen and 98 from fellow opener Ryan Rickelton led MI Cape Town to a withering total of 243-5 and victory by a whopping 98-runs in their Betway SA20 match against the Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Lest-arm spinner, George Linde, opened the bowling and returned outstanding figures of 4-0-25-2 as the Super Kings slumped to 145 all out in 17.5 overs to hand the visitors a bonus point victory.
A combination of poor bowling from the home side, a short boundary on one side of the ground and ruthless batting combined to see MI Cape Town dominate the first innings of the match after being asked to bat first by home captain Faf du Plessis.
Van der Dussen’s 104 came from a mere 50 balls with nine fours and six sixes while Rickelton, starved of the strike in the final five overs, was denied a century by a fine, diving catch from ‘keeper Ronan Hermann in the final over off the bowling off Nandre Burger.
The openers added exactly 200 for the first wicket in 15.3 overs before van der Dussen, dropped by Donovan Ferreira on 102, was caught by the same fielder at long off, 44-year-old legspinner Imran Tahir the making the belated breakthrough.
Rickelton faced just six balls in the final five overs but batted magnificently striking six fours and eight sixes before missing out on what would have been a well deserved hundred.
The total actually represented a comeback, of sorts, by the Super Kings who appeared likely to concede closer to 260 after the opening partnership. The decision to use three specialist spinners was curious – and costly – with Afghan left arm wrist-spinner, Zahir Khan, conceding 30 runs in just two overs.
Tahir finished with 1-31 in three overs while Moeen Ali finished with 4-0-43-0 after conceding just six in the first over of the innings. Burger had eye-watering figures of 3-0-48-0 before bowling a wonderful final over of the innings to finish with 4-0-53-2.
When the Super Kings lost four wickets inside the six-over Power Play the match was all but over although Leus du Plooy did his best to launch a recovery with 48 (6×4, 2×6) from just 24 balls.
Du Plessis (6) sliced Linde to point after Reeza Hendricks (0) was run out in an embarrassing mix-up with his opening partner. Du Plooy, too, was run out. Romario Shepherd belted 34 from 19 balls but by then it was far too late.
It was the second match for both teams although the opening match of the tournament featuring defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and the Super Kings was rained off without a ball bowled. MI Cape Town lost a high-scoring thriller against the Durban Super Giants at Kingsmead.
Joburg Super Kings: Faf du Plessis (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Ronan Hermann, Leus du Plooy, Moeen Ali, Donovan Ferreira (wkt), Romario Shepherd, Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams, Zahir Khan, Imran Tahir:
MI Cape Town: Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Dewald Brevis, Connor Esterhuizen, Liam Livingstone, Kieron Pollard (captain), Sam Curran, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Beuran Hendricks, Olly Stone.