Match Center

That's all from Super Saturday! In the first game, Paarl Royals maintained their supremacy with a narrow win over Pretoria Capitals while in the evening match, the home side MICT just thrilled Cape Town to bits. Sunday, 26th January, 2025 sees only one game, in Johannesburg, between the Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape. We start early, since it is a Sunday, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 7 pm IST (1330 GMT) but our buildup will begin well in advance. So do join us early. In the meantime, you can catch all the action from the Super Six stage of the Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup, the second (and possibly the last?) day of the second Test between Pakistan and West Indies, the Bangladesh Premier League and the International League T20. Just enjoy this carnival. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

How confident would MI Cape Town be right now? If some luck goes their way and Paarl Royals slip at the top, MI can end up topping the table. But even if they don't, they stand in good shape to finish in the top 2. They stay at home for a while now, taking on Sunrisers Eastern Cape in their next match, on Wednesday, 29th January, 2025. The Durban's Super Giants, will need some help from the teams at the top if they are to make it through. They have 2 games left, with the first of those in Paarl, against the Paarl Royals on Monday, 27th January, 2025.

The victorious captain of MI Cape Town, RASHID KHAN, says that at the business end of the competition, it is important that the team does not lose focus. Is amazed with the way his team played in this match, especially the way the bowlers bowled in the first 6 overs. Adds that as a bowling unit, on a good pitch, striking with the new ball under 10 overs was the key but his team just never let the opposition settle right till the end. Praises the way Durban fought back from 22/4 but honestly says that as a team, Mi were expecting a score of around 160-170 as the pitches are usually good to bat in Cape Town. Further says that the mindset has to be positive while chasing or defending. Praises Ryan Rickelton for contributing the way he has been for the last two seasons, taking on the bowlers inside the Powerplay. Believes that Powerplay is suited for a person who plays his natural game.

The skipper of Durban's Super Giants, KESHAV MAHARAJ, admits that they lost their way in the Powerplay with both, bat and ball. With the bat, he says that they lost too many wickets and with the ball, they conceded too many boundaries. Agrees that not just for him as a skipper, but for all the players, it has been a frustrating season. But adds that the players are all pumped up for the remaining two games and take some momentum into the next season. Is happy with the way Williamson and Klaasen stepped up with the bat. Wants his unit to look at the positives from this match but also check out the mistakes committed and learn from those, ahead of their next match.

HEINRICH KLAASEN from the Durban's Super Giants HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant knock of 66 (43) in the first innings. So that's an award to the side not coming through. Nice. Klaasen says that finally he has recovered his form but it has been way too late as far this SA20 edition is concerned. On his thought process during his slump, Klaasen says that he never stopped believing in himself as he was hitting the ball nicely. Admits though, it was a frustrating period for him. On his discussion with Kane Williamson, Klaasen says that the chat was only about playing normal cricket and punish the bad balls. Is amazed by the calmness of Williamson and is happy to have spent some time with him in the middle. Adds that to see someone score runs at a brisk pace without taking too many risks is a good thing to watch.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, a gritty batting display from Kane Williamson and Heinrich Klaasen saw a great fightback from Durban's Super Giants as they recovered from 22/4  to post a competitive 149/6. With over a 100 runs in the last 10 overs, one felt that the visiting side had some sort of momentum heading into the break, but it turned out anything but that. The bowlers set up the victory for MI Cape Town, with Boult, Linde and Rashid choking Durban for space. Wonder who will be given the Player Of the Match. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

Tough game to accept for Durban's Super Giants. Or shall we say, another tough game to accept. The bowlers were rendered toothless and barring Keshav Maharaj, no one seemed like being able to provide any kind of an incision. The pitch seemed to have gotten better under the lights but that cannot serve as an excuse for not bowling the correct lines and lengths. With just 1 win in 8 games this season, Durban are not officially knocked out but one feels that the players themselves do not believe that they can get through.

150 was supposed to be 10 runs below par but given the way Cape Town have chased this down, it seems like that was 50 runs short of par. The openers, Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen set the tone in the Powerplay, clobbering 68 runs. At that stage itself, the game seemed dead and buried and the 25-run over in the final over of the Powerplay ignited the hopes of a bonus point for MI. The batters played accordingly, trying to achieve that extra point and in that process, lost a few quick wickets. Ryan Rickelton continued his amazing form this summer, scoring his second half century in 3 games. He now has scored 419 runs in 4 innings at Cape Town in 2025 - 259 in the Test against Pakistan and then back-to-back half centuries in the SA20.

Wow. That is some sort of a comprehensive win by MI Cape Town. They have literally snatched the match out of Durban's Super Giants' claws, if there was any claw on the match and have moved to second spot in the points table, with 21 points. Add to it, if the net run rate does come into question, Cape Town have the best run rate too. +1.84. 3 out of their 4 wins have been with a bonus point. Outstanding.

SIX! That is a stunning shot! Full and wide outside off, Linde is backing away to the leg side and hence, has to reach out. But he manages to connect and carves it over backward point! 4 sixes in 5 balls to finish the game off in a jiffy! MI CAPE TOWN WIN BY 7 WICKETS AND 31 BALLS TO SPARE, GRABBING THE BONUS POINT!

Similar ball, George tries something similar but is cramped for room and fends it to the leg side.

SIX! HATTRICK OF SIXES! And victory is just a hit away now. Slower ball, around leg stump, short in length, George Linde backs away to the leg side and pulls it over mid-wicket! 2 needed from 9 balls for the bonus point now!

SIX MORE! BRUTAL! The length is held back a touch but the line is a bit too straight. On leg stump and Linde just powers it over the bowler to clear long on! 8 more needed from 10 balls for the bonus point!

SIX! Any more doubts regarding the bonus point? 14 needed from 11 balls now! A length ball, around off, George Linde just stands his ground and lofts it through the line over cover!

FINAL STRATEGIC BREAK. Well, that bonus point is not out of question. 20 needed from 2 overs. Possible? The batters are certainly attacking because they have nothing to lose. Have to believe that they surely cannot lose 7 wickets under 20 runs. Durban's Super Giants are looking flat now, given that their qualification hopes hinge on a thread. Marcus Stoinis is back on. 2-0-17-0 so far.

SIX! Fine shot! Tossed up, around off, Dewald Brevis dances down the track and lofts it wirh ease over long off! 11 from the over, 24 in the last 2!