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Fans erupt as MI Cape Town crush Sunrisers Eastern Cape by 76 runs to win their maiden SA20 trophy

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MI Cape Town clinched their maiden SA20 title with a commanding 76-run victory over two-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SRH). The team delivered a dominant performance in both batting and bowling to secure the trophy. Trent Boult was named Player of the Match for his exceptional spell, taking 2/9 in four overs. Marco Jansen, with 204 runs and 19 wickets in the tournament, earned the Player of the Series award. The Cape Town posted a challenging total of 181/8 before bundling out Eastern Cape for just 105. Their aggressive approach and disciplined bowling proved too strong for the defending champions. This victory marked a historic moment as the Cape Town lifted their first SA20 trophy in Johannesburg.

MI Cape Town’s strong batting performance

The Cape Town set a solid foundation with Ryan Rickelton‘s aggressive 33 off 15 balls, taking on the powerplay with a strike rate of 220.00. Rassie van der Dussen played a stabilizing role, scoring 23 off 25 balls before falling to Liam Dawson. Reeza Hendricks fell cheaply, but Connor Esterhuizen and Dewald Brevis provided the necessary acceleration. Brevis’ 38 off 18 balls, laced with two fours and four sixes, was a game-changing effort.

George Linde contributed a quick 20, while Delano Potgieter‘s unbeaten 13 ensured the Cape Town crossed 180. Kagiso Rabada added eight late runs, while Rashid Khan and Corbin Bosch departed without scoring. The team’s total of 181/8 at a run rate of 9.05 set up a challenging chase. MI Cape Town capitalized on the momentum, targeting the weaker bowlers in the middle overs.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s struggles with the ball

The Eastern Cape’s bowlers had a mixed outing, with Richard Gleeson leading the attack with 2/22 in four overs at an economy of 5.50. Marco Jansen, despite taking two wickets, conceded 39 runs in his four-over spell. Craig Overton bowled economically in the early phase, picking up one wicket for 31 runs. Liam Dawson was expensive, giving away 40 runs but managed to take two wickets, including the key dismissal of van der Dussen.

Aiden Markram‘s three overs cost 35 runs, with his lone wicket being Connor Esterhuizen. Andile Simelane bowled just one over, conceding 14 runs without success. Despite early breakthroughs, Eastern Cape struggled to contain the Cape Town’s aggressive batting lineup. The bowlers lacked discipline in the death overs, allowing crucial late runs.

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Eastern Cape’s disastrous batting collapse

Chasing 182, the Eastern Cape had a horror start, losing David Bedingham for five in the second over. Jordan Hermann followed soon after for just one, leaving the team struggling at 8/2. Tony de Zorzi and Tom Abell tried to rebuild, adding 57 runs for the third wicket. De Zorzi’s 26 off 23 balls was steady but not enough to shift momentum. Abell top-scored with 30 off 25 balls but fell just when acceleration was needed. Aiden Markram‘s dismissal for six triggered a middle-order collapse. Stubbs’ 15 off 15 was the only other double-digit score as Eastern Cape lost wickets in quick succession. The team slumped from 65/3 to 105 all out in just 18.4 overs.

MI Cape Town’s clinical bowling display

Boult was sensational with the new ball, delivering a spell of 2/9 in four overs at a remarkable economy of 2.25. Rabada was lethal, picking up 4/25 in 3.4 overs, dismantling Eastern Cape’s batting order. Rashid applied pressure in the middle overs, taking 1/19 in his full quota. Linde proved effective, striking twice while conceding only 20 runs. Bosch, despite being expensive, chipped in with a crucial wicket. The disciplined bowling attack maintained relentless pressure, forcing Eastern Cape into errors. The fielding was sharp, with crucial catches taken at key moments. The Cape Town’s bowlers executed their plans perfectly, ensuring a dominant victory.

Here’s how fans reacted:

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