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It’s been quite the tournament. Hard-fought, intense, fun roller-coaster. W L W L W, that’s how our five games so far have gone. While the losses have been close, two of the three wins have come with bonus points. So, we are here in Durban now for the first of two back-to-back games against the Super Giants. Let’s make two Ws in a row!&nbsp;DSG, after getting their campaign off to a winning start, have lost three in a row and have a game washed out. They currently at sixth in the points table and would be hungry to get going. The conditions at the Kingsmead Oval too have been quite challenging. That’s what should make it fun. Two desperate teams, two star-studded outfits, one battle for supremacy.&nbsp;What: Durban’s Super Giants vs MI Cape Town&nbsp;When: 21 Jan 2025 | 17:30 local time, 21:00 IST&nbsp;Where: Kingsmead, Durban&nbsp;What to expect: 150 is a good score at the Kingsmead this year with the ball seaming around big. It also hasn’t been one of those chasing grounds like a few others in the tournament so far, making it quite tricky at the toss for the skippers. Nevertheless, it should be a cracker.&nbsp;

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Match 6 | DSGvMICT preview: Time to break the one win, one loss streak!

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After blazing through the chase with a knock of 89 off just 39 balls, Ryan Rickelton, South Africa’s latest batting sensation, was out at the press-conference on the back of MI Cape Town’s massive win over the Joburg Super Kings. Excerpts…On missing out on the last gameI got Covid, so I was man down for about 4-5 days and then had my hamstring after the Test match. So I needed those extra days to recover. But I feel a lot better and am fir to play.&nbsp;On thinking of winning with a &nbsp;bonus pointWe were just trying to win the game. We knew the spinners were going to be quite tough so we just looked to put pressure on them. When I managed to get a big over off Jones, I thought we got closer. But I still didn’t think of it until those two sixes off (Matheesha) Pathirana. Every point is valuable. Hopefully it holds us in good stead.&nbsp;On his current formI don’t think you ever have complete control. The first part of the game, I was a bit nervous and edgy. I had a long hit yesterday for about two hours to find my groove. I felt comfortable so that I could be confident. I wouldn’t have expected to go as hard as I did today, but luckily Rassie (van der Dussen) takes that early risk, giving me time to get going. I look to play the ball as best as I see it. I am a lot more calmer in my T20 game now and have a bit of a blueprint. Just enjoying batting to be honest.&nbsp;On what would have been a par score&nbsp;The conditions are changing. South Africa is always changing. The weather up north is not great. In T20 cricket you just want good wickets. Only in Pretoria, maybe, you get 200+ all the time. Maybe 180 would have looked a very different chase out there. It looked like we got the bonus point and it went easily, but it is the intent you have to play with to put yourself in that situation. South Africa is one place where you can get 150 in Paarl and win comfortably. As batters when those days come when the wicket is good, you have to try and cash in as much as you can, because you know the tougher, harder wickets like we saw in Durban last night are around the corner too.&nbsp;Thoughts on him playing all three formats nowI have always felt I can be an all format player. It’s not the easiest thing to do. But I am learning different formats can require different techniques, different mentalities. That was the learning for me coming from the last Test match into my first game against Paarl. I was found wanting there. But having watched footage of what worked well and what alignments looked like, I had to make one or two adjustments. I just want to be consistent. It is hard to be a three format player nowadays, but if you look at the guys who are doing well, like Travis Head or the (Rishabh) Pants, they play pretty much the same way in all three formats. So you try and be consistent in how you want to play the game and the conditions and situations make you adjust just slightly from format to format.&nbsp;On MI Cape Town gaining momentumI heard today, our physio said that this time last year we were two from two and then the downward spiral happened. So a bit of emphasis today from guys who’ve been here all three seasons, when Faf got going, we thought ‘here we go again’. We really need to win two on the bounce just to give us proper momentum. We missed that opportunity in Paarl the other day to kick us ahead and give us that momentum. But you aren’t going to win everything. Durban is a massive impetus for us. They are a really good team and they are looking to bounce back. If we can get two on the bounce, just create that winning habit and culture, we are up for that. The team is gelling well, the guys are clicking really nicely. From the inside it feels different this year and there is a good thing next.&nbsp;On Reeza Hendricks’ bowlingHe was nervous as hell to bowl (laughs). He knows he could come up especially when there are a lot of left handers in the opposition. He is not a massive turner of the ball but even while playing at the Lions, he’s got that golden arm. We looked to give him a soft over and to pick up those wickets is a massive bonus. He’s a lot better than we give him credit for (laughs).Thoughts on South Africa’s Champions Trophy squad&nbsp;Even though we lost of Pakistan recently, the guys are phenomenal players. It is the team that has been backed. Obviously I would love to play but right now, I got this to focus on. If I do well here I get the best shot. Not looking too far ahead, but the focus is this month.&nbsp;

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“We really want to win two in a row to gain momentum”: Ryan Rickelton

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Woah. WOAH. WOOAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! We’ve not just turned the game on its head, we’ve done it so clinically with a bonus point in our kitty that we’ve gone on to top the table. &nbsp;Never losing hope, even at 97/0The Joburg Super Kings were off to a real flier, with Faf du Plessis and Devon Conway setting the platform. At 97/0 in the 11th over, it really looked like MI Cape Town were going to be on a leather hunt tonight. But in typical fashion, we turned it around. And the turnaround came from someone least suspected. Reeza Hendricks, the star batter, rolled his arm over, foxed Conway in the loop to get him stumped, got rid of Wihan Lube a couple of overs later, and just like that, restricted JSK to a pretty under-par 172.&nbsp;Rickelton, never in a pickle89 runs | 39 balls | 8 fours | 6 sixes. Ryan Rickelton, making a return to the side and to the top of the order, was in no mood to back down. He absolutely nailed his authority and killed the game with Rassie van der Dussen and Reeze Hendricks giving him good company with useful 30s.&nbsp;Just brutal hitting, all throughNone of our batters missed out. None of their bowlers was spared. Take the 14th over for instance when Rickelton just cut loose – 4, 4, 4, 6, 2, 6. Young Dewald Brevis walked in, smashed Matheesha Pathirana for a massive 99m six first ball, flexed his muscle, and ensured we sealed the win with the bonus point.&nbsp;Table toppers, it has a wonderful ring to it. SA20 2025, we are coming for you!&nbsp;

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MICTvJSK report: OH, WHAT A TURNAROUND!!  

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Blue vs Yellow is always Red hot. When these two sides met last week at the Wanderers, the game was moving towards a thrilling finish. But the rain came down, ruined a possible classic, and the DLS method handed JSK the points. It’s not that we need additional motivation, but this is what we are out to avenge.&nbsp;It's been a mixed campaign for MI Cape Town so far. We started off with a comprehensive win against SEC, were undone by the rain in the second against the Super Kings, got off at home a big one over the Royals, and finally gave a tough fight but couldn’t get the result in the reverse fixture at Paarl. But with a bonus point as a well in our kitty, we are sitting comfortably at the second spot on the points table. Let’s march upwards, shall we?What: MI Cape Town vs Joburg Super Kings&nbsp;When: January 18, 2025 | 17:30 local time, 21:00 IST&nbsp; Where: Newlands, Cape Town&nbsp; What to expect: It’s an iconic rivalry, this. There’s no reason this game cannot be epic. The whole tournament so far has had a fair contest between bat and ball. This one should be no different.&nbsp;

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Match 5 | MICTvJSK preview: Back in our den to avenge the rain-affected defeat 

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He fought it out until the end in conditions that weren’t the easiest to bat on, but Rassie van der Dussen’s 64-ball 91 went in vain as the Paarl Royals chased down the target in 19 overs with six wickets in hand. He was out there for the post-match press conference. Excerpts..&nbsp;On upping his strike-rate in the last few seasons&nbsp;I think I have taken a conscious decision, especially when I am opening, to put the bowlers under pressure. In the last few years, I have been looked at as the guy who bats through. I have got the game and I feel like doing what guys around the world are doing, hitting boundaries upfront. Against spin, I have worked hard on boundary options. Playing in the T20 leagues has helped me a lot with that. I am going into my latter years now, Faf (du Plessis) is inspiring me, but even he is saying that he is constantly adapting his game and renewing his game, so pretty similar for me.&nbsp;On missing out on the 2024 T20 World Cup side&nbsp;I’ll be honest, it was a tough one. I have never said I should have been in place of someone, but it was tough. In ICC events you can pick only 15. That is sport. The guys did really well and made us proud. There have been some opportunities for me to go into leagues. Going into the latter part of my career, that’s something I’ll look to do for a few years. My first priority has always been to play for the Proteas. What I don’t know is when that stops. At this stage, I am really not thinking about anything other than just enjoying my cricket. We have a great team at MI Cape Town, I enjoy playing for the Lions domestically. Not looking too far ahead. Just enjoying my time and put in performances.&nbsp;On Kwena Maphaka&nbsp;He's world class already. He’s got a long way to go. He’s got the raw product, the pace, the left-arm is always a thing, he’s got good change ups, a good bouncer. He almost cleaned me up the other day at Newlands. The challenge for him is to not believe that the hype is too much, but to follow the normal road as a professional cricketer where you come into leagues or come into the national team and still have to perform. It doesn’t matter if you are 18. Reality is hard there. Nobody cares if you are 18, they are going to treat you as an equal. He’s come leaps and bounds last year. He’s a good kid, got a good head on his shoulders. He has guys like Alan Donald and Russell Domingo. The way he is going, he’s going to have a huge future.&nbsp;Thoughts on the 158-run total at the halfway stageI thought our score was probably par. The wind was a factor. I didn’t find the wind as obvious a part of conditions before. You practically take out one boundary. You felt you couldn’t have a look at that boundary again. They took a gamble of it becoming better under lights, which it did. It was a used pitch. The lights played a big role tonight. Speaking to someone, it came on quite nicely under lights. We were probably 10 short of where we wanted to be. We were not on it with the ball, and obviously with the catches. If a guy like Lhuan-dre (Pretorius) gives you chances, you’ve got to take it because otherwise he is going to make you pay.&nbsp;Vibe in this year’s squad compared to the last two years&nbsp;It feels different in the squad. There is a different vibe. When you do so badly, you learn what not to do. We took those lessons from the first two years to heart. In terms of communication, leadership, an overseas captain coming in, but some of the senior players made a conscious decision to help him out on the field. He was captain two years ago, he didn’t know anyone in the team, didn’t know the conditions. In the first year, it is just guys thrown together and you expect them to play. Before the first match this year, there was a plan to get the communication better to help Rashid out and just be a lot better in all aspects.&nbsp;

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“Felt we got a par score, but conditions got easier under lights”: Rassie van der Dussen

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It was a fight until the end, where despite it getting easy for batting, the MI Cape Town bowlers kept fighting it out. But sadly, it wasn’t our best day on the field and with the bat too, the explosiveness came a touch late. It ended in the Paarl Royals getting back in this return fixture in their backyard with a six-wicket win. Let’s look back.&nbsp;Sadly, a dropped catch proves costlyIt was pretty close, I felt we dropped a few catches early on and that didn't let us back in the game. We were right there but fell short,” said skipper Rashid Khan in the post-match interview. In the first over of the match, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, was dropped by Dewald Brevis, and ended up eventually scoring a 52-ball match-winning 83.Spin strangles it for the Royals&nbsp;Boland Park has historically been a ground that’s aided spin. The Royals used 15 overs of it, including three from Joe Root, and our batters found it tough to go after them. Unfortunately by the time our bowlers got a bowl, the dew came down and the pitch wasn’t gripping as much.&nbsp;Rassie’s fighting bat-through-the-innings 91It was the senior pro who dropped anchor and batted through the innings. On a pitch where run-scoring wasn’t the easiest, he paced his innings beautifully, with five fours and five sixes. Alas, the 158/4 that MI Cape Town got to at the end, wasn’t to be enough.&nbsp;

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PRvMICT report: Pretorius’ 83 trumps Rassie’s 91 in reverse fixture 

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Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, but all pieces seem to be falling in place. All our batters have chipped in at different times in different situations, and all our bowlers have been on the money. We are sitting at the top of the table with two clinical wins, one with a bonus point as well and a solid NRR. Games here are coming thick and fast, and that means we are back on the road, on our way to Boland Park to face the Paarl Royals in the reverse fixture with just a day’s gap.&nbsp;They would be charged up, the pitch too would be different from what it was at Newlands. But we have all bases covered. Let’s pocket another W on our way home, shall we?What: Paarl Royals vs MI Cape TownWhen: January 15, 2025 | 17:30 local time, 21:00 ISTWhere: Boland Park, PaarlWhat to expect: The pitches are said to be the most spin-friendly ones in South Africa. Given our lineup of Rashid Khan and George Linde, trust them to be licking their lips already!&nbsp;

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Match 4 | PRvMICT preview: Momentum seized, winning roll next! 

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After a couple of quiet games, Reeza Hendricks finally came to the party. His 37-ball 59 studded with three fours and two sixes was what MI Cape Town needed to set the platform in getting to a solid total of 172. He was out there at the post-match press conference talking about his form, the disappointment of missing out on South Africa’s squad for the Champions Trophy, and obviously, Kagiso Rabada. Excerpts..&nbsp;&nbsp;On getting among the runs&nbsp;I’m feeling okay. Contributed well with the Proteas not too long ago. Obviously the start didn’t go to plan but hopefully now I can continue doing the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thoughts on missing out on South Africa’s Champions Trophy squad&nbsp;Obviously disappointing. But the expectation wasn’t high because I wasn’t part of the last ODI squad. Disappointing in the end, but such is life, such is cricket, and the focus is now on the SA20.&nbsp;&nbsp;On playing at NewlandsToday was a good day for us, playing the first game at home. Going out and playing the way we did, getting the win, makes us happy with our performance.&nbsp;On MI Cape Town and the team environment&nbsp;I wasn’t part of the first two years, but the team has been unbelievable. The spirits have been good. It helps to win, we have two wins out of three. Everyone is getting along nicely and the performances we have put on the field help. Hopefully, we can continue the same way.&nbsp;Preparations for the reverse fixture against Paarl RoyalsWe’ll take confidence going into Wednesday’s game. Different venue so we’ll have to adapt to conditions. It is in front of their home crowd. Nothing really changes, it is just us adapting and playing accordingly.&nbsp;On the SA20 scheduleGames are coming thick and fast. You can’t dwell on the past. You have to focus on the next one. Definitely a mental thing where you actually have to turn your focus to the next game. It is all about moving forward. Wednesday is a new day, so I have to restart again.&nbsp;On the genius of Kagiso RabadaIncredible. KG (Rabada) just turning up and doing KG things. It wasn’t his best ball but he got a wicket so we’ll take that. It set the tone for us moving forward. We needed that partnership to be broken which he did. It got the crowd going, the boys going and we couldn’t have asked for a better start from KG.&nbsp;

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“KG just turned up and did KG things”: Reeza Hendricks on the Royals getting Rabada-ed

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There are ways to announce your arrival at home, and then there is this. MI Cape Town have absolutely bossed their entry into Newlands for this first time in this season of the SA20 and boy, haven’t we loved every bit of it. The crowd going wild, our batters striking them big, our bowlers skittling the opposition out, there was complete dominance on display.&nbsp;The Reeza storm touches down!&nbsp;The first two games were a tad quiet by his lofty standards, but enter Newlands, and Reeza Hendricks has found his timing. He plundered a 37-ball 59 to set the platform for a massive score, with Rassie van der Dussen giving him good company with his 33-ball 43.&nbsp;One, two, three, DelanoHe spoke about enthralling the Cape Town public with his batting ahead of the game, and he lived up to it completely. Two fours and two sixes in his 18-ball knock of 29 while finishing the MI Cape Town innings to lift them to a strong 172/7 in their 20 overs. Young Dewald Brevis too chipped in with a useful 14-run cameo.&nbsp;Collapse triggered, and game sealedThe Paarl Royals were off to a good start with 38 coming off the first three overs, thanks mainly to Joe Root going on the offensive. But once Kagiso Rabada came in, bowled a couple of wicket maidens on the trot, which George Linde and Rashid Khan piled on with five wickets among them to ensure the Royals’ balloon kept being punctured regularly, the game was all but sealed. A slight fightback towards the end by the tail meant that we couldn’t get the bonus point, but nevertheless, it was as clinical as it could get.&nbsp;Three games, two wins, one with a bonus point, and a net run-rate of +2.408. We are right at the top of the table. Long may it continue ..&nbsp;

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MICTvPR report: Hendricks, Linde set up thumping homecoming 

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Delano Potgieter is no spring chicken. He’s 28. He’s been toiling it out in the South African domestic system for ten years now. He’s got some really impressive numbers. He’s been around at MI Cape Town for the last three seasons.&nbsp;In the first one he played nine out of the ten games, batted with an impressive strike-rate of nearly 160 in the limited time and balls he got. In the second season he got just the one innings to bat. In either season, he didn’t bowl.&nbsp;It’s safe to say things were different this time around. He’s the man of the moment. Two innings, each at a strike-rate of over 200, a fifer in the first innings he gets to bowl, and he’s already becoming this year’s story.&nbsp;“The first two games was something I dreamt of to be honest,” he says in an exclusive chat with micapetown.co.za.&nbsp;“It is lovely being out there and performing in the Blue and Gold and am really excited by that. Just performing the way I did and contributing towards the team was an amazing feeling. Long may it continue for the rest of the tournament,” he adds.&nbsp;What makes it all the more special is Delano having his family around. The runs and the wickets are there for everyone to see, but their proud smile is what Delano cherishes the most.&nbsp;“I wouldn’t say that I think about it during the game, but it’s always nice off the field. Looking in the stands and seeing them there is always a good feeling. I always appreciate them being here for the games,” he says.&nbsp;So, the SA20 juggernaut now makes its way home, to Newlands, to Cape Town. What are his plans? How’s the excitement?“I’m really excited for that. I was telling someone that it would be nice if I could hit a six and take a couple of wickets for the crowd to cheer. I can’t wait in front of my home fans. I encourage everyone to come and support us. We are going to give you some nice entertainment.”That’s right, Kaapstad, we are coming home. And Delano is all set to put on a show.&nbsp;

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Interview | “These first two games was something I always dreamt of”: Delano Potgieter

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We are coming to the Mother City. We’ve missed you, Cape Town Faithful. The beautiful setting of the Table mountain, the grass banks, a belter of a pitch, the entire ground dressed in Blue and Gold backing out boys to the very end. Oh Newlands, our SA20 season has finally come home in 2025.&nbsp;After two games on the road, one a thumping win over the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, one a tough loss on the DLS method against the Joburg Super Kings with the rain coming down, we’ve come to make Cape Town our fortress. It’s a ground that’s given us some of our sweetest wins, and we are here to get on a consistent roll this year. Up next are Paarl Royals, who are coming off an easy win. It promises to be a cracker of a contest!&nbsp;What: MI Cape Town vs Paarl RoyalsWhen: January 13, 2025 | 17:30 SAST, 21:00 ISTWhere: Newlands, Cape Town&nbsp;What to expect: If the recent Test match between Pakistan and South Africa was anything to go by, there are plenty of runs in store.&nbsp;

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Match 3 | MICTvPR: Our home, our fortress, Newlands, here we come

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It sadly seems a little too familiar. A game that was nicely in the balance, only to be undone and for us to end up on the wrong side of the result because of the rain. It was a similar story in the game against the Joburg Super Kings in 2024, alas, 2025 has a similar result for us in store.&nbsp;Delano at it, again!Agreed, we hadn’t recovered from his batting exploits in the opening game against Sunrisers Eastern Cape, but at the Bullring, he put up an even better show. MI Cape Town’s batters had a tough outing in the first few overs, getting reduced to 30/4 and then 73/5 to 75/6 in the 14 over. George Linde (48 off 35) was fighting it out there. Delano walked in, smoked four fours and three sixes in his 22-ball knock of 44, and changed the complexion of the game big time. Suddenly MI Cape Town were looking at a strong 140/6 with something for their bowlers to fight with.&nbsp;The Boult-Rabada pace bowling academy!&nbsp;Trust him to swing the ball big and trust him to strike in the powerplay. Boulty got us off to the perfect start with the ball, getting the dangerous Devon Conway nicking off to the keeper. Faf du Plessis and Leus du Plooy then got a partnership going, but weren’t quite breaking loose. Enter KG Rabada. Exit Faf. Courtesy, some magicBird? Plane? DEWALD BREVISSSS!!!&nbsp;He was the stroke of brilliance. Fielding at the boundary, with the rain coming down and the ball being wet, he found a way to pull off a stunning catch – jumping up, one-handed, throwing the ball back in as Faf smacked it hard towards long-off, and then had the presence of mind to realise that he was falling over the ropes to throw it back up in the air. And with an air of elegance, recovered, dived forward, and plucked off a beast of a catch!&nbsp;Alas, rain and DLS haven’t been our friendsThe first rain break reduced the match to a 19-pver contest. But it came back in the 12th over of JSK’s chase, never stopped, and courtesy the Super Kings being six runs ahead on the DLS total, were awarded the game.&nbsp;

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Match 2 | JSKvMICT preview: No, no, no. Another thriller against JSK undone by rain

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You still celebrating the win over the Sunrisers? You’re head’s still heady from the absolute dominance our boys showed in all three departments? Don’t worry, you ain’t alone.&nbsp;We’re heading over from Gqeberha to Jo’burg. That’s right, it isn’t Newlands time yet, but it gives us the perfect opportunity to use our momentum and make it two in two on the road before we head over to our fortress. The Super Kings are up next, for whom this match is set to be their first in this season. We have found our tempo, we’ve found our magic, and we cannot wait to paint the Yellow of the Wanderers in our Blue and Gold!&nbsp;What: Joburg Super Kings vs MI Cape Town When: January 11, 2025 | 17:30 SAST, 21:00 IST Where: The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg&nbsp;What to expect: The altitude of the Bullring makes it a six-hitting ground, and trust the batters from both sides to make merry. In short, this should be a cracker.&nbsp;

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Match 2 | JSKvMICT preview: Let’s make it two in two on the road

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&nbsp;A spell of 3-0-10-5 doesn’t come around every day. A 12-ball 25-run knock doesn’t come about every day either. For Delano Potgieter, who managed both feats in a single day, this season three opener against Sunrisers Eastern Cape is something he’s going to remember for a long time to come. He was at the post-match press conference sharing his thoughts. Excerpts..&nbsp;On beating SEC for the first time in the SA20I had a look at that stat, it was the first time we beat the Sunrisers. It’s only the first game of the tournament and happy to start off with a win. Very happy about it.&nbsp;On his plans while bowlingIt happened so quickly. I was standing at the top of my mark and I just thought to myself that I would bowl at the top of the stumps. It worked out perfectly. Extremely happy about it. It is the first time I have bowled for MI Cape Town in three seasons. I am just happy that I got the opportunity today and used it to the best of my ability. We have a very strong bowling lineup of international and local bowlers as well. I would give it my best if I get a chance again.&nbsp;Whether his batting performance helped his bowling tonightFor me, I always like whatever I do. If one skill comes out nicely, I have a lot of confidence going in with the other skill as well.&nbsp;On the experience for local players in the SA20The professional environment that we are in and the players we rub shoulders with in a tournament like this, and at the Lions as well, if you do what you need to do, you will get better. At the end of the day, we just look to look at the ball when we bat and hit the ball in the right area when we bowl.&nbsp;On his discussion while batting with George Linde in the middle&nbsp;I came in the 17th over. We said we were going to give ourselves a couple of balls. It wasn’t the easiest wicket to attack from the start. It worked for us. We ran hard between the wickets and won comfortably in the end. Happy to contribute in that manner.&nbsp;On Rashid Khan, the captainRashid is phenomenal. Phenomenal captain, phenomenal player. I am extremely happy to share the change room with him. He has got plenty of wickets and plenty of wickets. You can only learn from a player like that.&nbsp;Possible reasons behind him not getting to bowl in the pastI am not too sure. Everyone has different plans and every venue has different plans. We have an amazing bowling lineup with KG Rabada, Trent Boult and there is no need for me to bowl. The captain threw me the ball and it turned out perfectly.&nbsp;Whether he reckons this is MI Cape Town’s best performance yetI think Cape Town has put out a lot of amazing performances. I can’t pinpoint which one was the best but tonight was special because it was the first match of season three. We played phenomenal cricket.&nbsp;

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“Just wanted to hit the top of the stumps, worked out perfectly”: Delano Potgieter

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Yeah, that’s what we were talking about. Against the two-time defending champions, against a side that has dominated this rivalry in the past, we’ve given this 2025 campaign a dream start.&nbsp;A solid batting performance in some bowling-friendly conditions, a superb finish at the death, and then skittling the opposition out for a mere 77. Let’s run through the proceedings, shall we?Oh, the Delano delight!It indeed was his game through and through. As if a 12-ball 25 wasn’t enough to pump MI Cape Town up to a strong 174-run finish at the death, he strode in to bowl, and very casually pocketed a FIFER as well. Three wickets in the first five ball, and two in the subsequent two overs. He triggered a collapse and there was no coming back for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.&nbsp;Boulty kicks it off in typical styleHow’s a double-wicket maiden in your first outing for the side to set things up? That’s what Trent Boult does for a living. Sending Zak Crawley and Tom Abell off consecutive deliveries, he ensured MICT had their grip on the game, and the bowling lineup ensured it never slipped out.&nbsp;The DB showHe’s a star and tonight, he was the showman. Six sixes and two fours in his 29-ball knock of 57 to signal his form and his intentions for this year’s SA20, Dewald Brevis was in the zone. Despite a slight wobble in the batting, he ensured the scoring rate always stayed strong.&nbsp;Right, Kaapstad, it’s just the start we were hoping for. This sets the momentum rolling, and as we go on to Jo’burg to take on the Super Kings, it sets up our season perfectly..&nbsp;

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SECvMICT Report: Clinical, ruthless, perfect start to the season! 

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MI Cape Town announce the signing of Afghanistan opener Sediqullah Atal as a replacement for Ben Stokes for the SA20 2025 season.Sediqullah plays all formats for Afghanistan, and in the T20 format, has played 46 T20s for his country and in franchise cricket, scoring twelve fifties at a strike of 130 and was part of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad as well.&nbsp;Welcome to the One Famly, Sediqullah!&nbsp;

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MI Cape Town sign Sediqullah Atal as a replacement for Ben Stokes

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Bigger, better, fresher, more charged up. The festive season in the Rainbow Nation is upon us. One month of proper breakneck cricket. The carnival. The extravaganza. The SA20 2025 has touched down!&nbsp;We couldn’t be more ready. After a couple of tough seasons, we are on a mission. A mission to thrill, a mission to bring the silverware to Newlands. A redemption mission.&nbsp;“Everyone is pumped up to deliver their best,” said our captain Rashid Khan at the pre-season captain’s press conference in Cape Town.&nbsp;We kick off our campaign with a clash against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the two-time champs. They’ve also been some sort of a nemesis for us. But this is a fresh year, a fresh start, and as Captain Rash put it, we are absolutely committed to turning it around. Kaapstad, we know the love you show for our city. It's time to get behind the boys again!&nbsp;What: Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs MI Cape Town&nbsp;When: January 9, 2025 | 5:30pm local time, 9:00pm IST&nbsp;&nbsp; Where: St. George’s Park, Gqeberha&nbsp; What to expect: We start off on the road, on a ground where the pitch is often said to be a road. Although it was a tad spicy last season, our batters are coming in with runs and confidence under their belt.&nbsp;

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SECvMICT | Preview: IT’S SA20 TIME! It’s time to cheer for the Mother City!

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Rashid Khan, our legend, our leader, our captain.&nbsp;The Afghan powerhouse, the spin wizard, the game-revolutionizer.&nbsp;With a zippy, quick armspeed, and a complete departure from the age-old techniques of leg-spin bowling, he’s put Afghanistan right on the cricketing map by bamboozling batters left, right and centre.We missed him in the previous season of the SA20 after back injury kept him out of action, but he’s back in the role of the skipper. There’s a fair bit of unfinished business for MI Cape Town after a couple of tough seasons. 2025 offers us our redemption, and trust skipper Rashid Khan to have his eyes set on the target, the silverware.&nbsp;Let’s bring the glitter to Cape Town, Captein Rashid!&nbsp;

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Aye, Aye Skip! RASHID KHAN named MI CAPE TOWN CAPTAIN for SA20 2025

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The iconic stripes have arrived, only limited by blue skies, steeped in a golden legacy! We couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas gift.&nbsp;With under a month to go for the start of the third season of the SA20, the excitement is palpable, and it’s only gone up a notch with MI Cape Town’s jersey being unveiled. This is what our stars are set to don as they take the field this year. Now imagine this: a beautiful Newlands evening, the rays of the setting sun against the Table mountain getting the Gold dazzling on our Samurai Cloak as the Blue shines bright.&nbsp;We’re in for one delicious month-long outing, and with the new Blue-and-Gold on our sleeves and in our hearts, it’s time to bring home the silverware.&nbsp;

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UNVEILED: MI Cape Town’s jersey for SA20 2025

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MI Cape Town welcomes Mitchell McClenaghan as the Bowling Coach for the upcoming 2025 season of the SA20. He’s all set to be joined by Kruger van Wyk as the Fielding Coach.&nbsp;McClenaghan, a true-blue MI #OneFamily legend, having won four IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians as a player in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, and part of the Wankhede folklore, makes the move from MI Emirates, where he was part of the title-winning ILT20 2024 campaign as the Bowling Coach. He’s going to love it at Newlands, with a bunch of exciting fast bowlers to work with!Van Wyk, a former New Zealand Test cricketer and a veteran with 80 T20s under his belt, is a South Africa-born, feisty wicket-keeper batter. He’s also the Fielding Coach for the South Africa men’s team.&nbsp;The two are set to join forces with Robin Peterson and Hashim Amla, who continue as the Head Coach and Batting Coach respectively.&nbsp;We bid goodbye to Lasith Malinga and James Pamment, two loyal soldiers of the Mumbai Indians over the years, and wish them all the best. Thank you for all the memories in the Rainbow Nation!&nbsp;

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ANNOUNCED: Mitchell McClenaghan as Bowling Coach and Kruger van Wyk as Fielding Coach

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The wait is over. The ticket counters are open. It’s time to put on that Blue and Gold again, get back on the planning mode with your friends and family, and get into the virtual queue.&nbsp;Tickets for SA20 2025 are now live for all public! Newlands is ready, Kapstaad. Let’s quickly grab them and brace up for an epic home season!&nbsp;Here’s what you need to do: Head over to the ‘Buy Match Tickets’ link on the micapetown.co.za homepage, or <a href="https://bit.ly/mict2025tickets">click here</a>. Tickets range from R135 to R750, with special discounts for under-18 students and 60+ pensioners. For the playoffs and the final, tickets would go live on December 6, 2024.&nbsp;Your calendar and your pass at Newlands:&nbsp;<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Jan 13, 2025</td><td>MI CT vs PR</td><td><a href="https://bit.ly/mictvpr2025">https://bit.ly/mictvpr2025</a></td></tr><tr><td>Jan 18, 2025</td><td>MI CT vs JSK</td><td><a href="https://bit.ly/mictvjsk2025">https://bit.ly/mictvjsk2025</a></td></tr><tr><td>Jan 25, 2025</td><td>MI CT vs DSG</td><td><a href="https://bit.ly/mictvdsg2025">https://bit.ly/mictvdsg2025</a></td></tr><tr><td>Jan 29, 2025</td><td>MI CT vs SEC</td><td><a href="https://bit.ly/mictvsec2025">https://bit.ly/mictvsec2025</a></td></tr><tr><td>Feb 2, 2025</td><td>MI CT vs PC</td><td><a href="https://bit.ly/mictvpc2025">https://bit.ly/mictvpc2025</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

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Tickets are live!! Grab your seat at SA20 2025 now

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Call yourself the ultimate fan? Here’s your chance to prove it! Jump the queue and grab your tickets for the third season of SA20 before it opens up for the general public. Here are the dates you need to remember:Pre-sale window for group-stage matches: Friday, October 25, 2024 to Wednesday, November 6, 2024. The public sale of tickets is set to open on November 7. What’s more, we have exclusive limited tickets for R20 available for the first home match at each stadium.&nbsp;Pre-sale window for play-off matches: Monday, December 2, 2024 to Thursday, December 5, 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;All you need to do is register <a href="https://www.sa20.co.za/pre-register-to-buy-season-3-tickets?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=static_post&amp;utm_campaign=form">here</a>. The league would send you an email as soon as the pre-sale window opens, and book your seat to watch us paint SA20 2025 in Blue and Gold.&nbsp;

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SA20 season 3 pre-registrations are now LIVE

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Usually auctions start slowly, with teams taking their time to look around before pulling out the big guns. Not tonight though. Just the second name out of the bag on the night of the SA20 2025 Auction was enough to create a flutter around the room.&nbsp;Reeza Hendricks is coming in on the back of a stellar year with the South African T20I side, where he’s established himself as the first choice opening batter. Unsurprisingly, he drew interest, and what followed was a bidding war.&nbsp;And we weren’t stopping until we got him.&nbsp;MI Cape Town raised the first bid, at 175k Rand. The Pretoria Capitals upped it, MICT upped it further, and it refused to stop. He soon became a millionaire, a double-millionaire in half the them, a three-time-millionaire in lesser than a minute. And he wasn’t done yet.&nbsp;Amid discussions and strategies, the paddle kept going up. Four million Rand was touched. 4.20 million shortly after. We took it up to 4.3 million. And that was it. The Capitals were done. They’d run out of their purse and were forced to pull out. And Reeza got himself into the #OneFamily. &nbsp;He's going through his career’s purple patch, and with loads of experience behind him, is all set to set the Newlands on fire. Welcome to the Blue and Gold, champ!&nbsp;

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Reeza Hendricks, the R4.3million guy MI Cape Town snapped up

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Three gun, experienced, Protea campaigners have been added to our roster for 2025, along with an exciting rookie. And to throw some light on the way things went for MI Cape Town at the SA20 Auction for season three, here’s our Head Coach, Robin Peterson, throwing some light on the strategies going into the Auction in a chat with MICT. Excerpts ..&nbsp;On MI Cape Town’s plan going into the auctionThe aim was to get a bit of experience into the group and Reeza Hendricks adds a lot to the group in terms of skill. He is an international quality opener with experience, and then Colin Ingram's career speaks for itself. He brings in a lot of experience. Dane Piedt, who is in the Test match team and a quality off-spinner. We have filled the gaps in terms of quality and experience.&nbsp;On having Ben Stokes don the Blue and GoldHaving Ben Stokes in any dressing room is great. He is the type of player Cape Town folks will flock to watch. We just want Ben to have fun, play his brand of cricket and bring some experience to the group. We are very excited to have him part of MI Cape Town.&nbsp;On working with Trent Boult at MICT after MINYBoulty is a legend. He comes in with a lot of pedigree. Wherever he goes he wins a lot of titles. We have a history of working together for MI New York and looking to bring the experience here.&nbsp;Thoughts on the players purchased at the auctionThe players we bought today, besides their skills and leadership, is that they are great guys in the dressing room. In high pressure tournaments, you need guys to have fun and not get bogged down. We need guys to keep their spirits up when things get tough, and those three signings definitely do that. Looking forward to that.&nbsp;Filling the gaps after the previous season&nbsp;A lot can change in T20 cricket. We’ve shown a lot of faith in the guys we retained. We want them around going forward, and just adding a few pieces around them to make them successful going ahead. &nbsp;

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“Aim was to add experience to the group”: Coach Robbie on MICT’s plan at the Auction

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That would be all then, Kaapstad! We've added two batters, a spinner, and a rookie pacer. The gaps have been filled. The squad is set. The platform is ready. Bring on season three already!&nbsp;<hr>6:15 SAST | 9:45 IST: It's Rookie Draft time, and we have the first pick - &nbsp;Tristan Luus, the 19-year-old fast bowler, who's impressed everyone with his accuracy in the SA Emerging squad, and then as part of the South Africa A squad against Sri Lanka A recently.&nbsp;That should it be for us at the Auction. The five sets are done, there is set to be an accelerated round in a bit, but we have our three picks. We've picked three Lions, Highveld boys, who'll be joining us - Reeza Hendricks, Dane Piedt and Colin Ingram. It's an exciting squad we're putting up, with three experienced heads, people who've been there and done that, joining us, and what we wait for now is the Rookie pick. Let's take a bit of a break, get our breath back, and regroup ..&nbsp;<hr>Right, and we have some more experience added to our squad, with the smart, wily, fighter of a off-spinner in Dane Piedt coming into the Blue and Gold, at his base price of 175k Rand.&nbsp;Colin Ingram, immediately after, comes to MI Cape Town as well. This one was a lot calmer though, having snapped him up at his base price of R175k. He's travelled the world, is vastly experienced at 39 years of age, and he comes in with a wealth of wisdom about the South African conditions. Welcome to Newlands, Colin!&nbsp;REEZA HENDRICKS IS OURS! At 4.3million Rand, the Capitals have been forced out as they run out of their purse money. The Cape boy, the big-hitter, the experienced T20 pro, is all set to don the Blue and Gold.&nbsp;Reeza Henricks comes in, and he's caused a fierce bidding war. MI Cape Town and The Pretoria Capitals just don't seem to be slowing down, and just like that, from his base price of 175k Rand, Reeza's become a four-time millionaire. Just two teams, and neither of them seem to be wanting to slow down. Oh, this is nail-biting stuff!&nbsp;The first round is set to go on for 40 minutes, followed by a 20 minute break for teams to regroup, before we move onto a 20-minute Express Round, at 5:30pm local time, followed by a quick five-minute Rookie Draft starting at 6:00pm. Lot's to think about, lot's to fight for. The ball goes rolling!4:30pm SAST | 8:00pm IST: Ohhhh yesssss, it's here. It's time. Let's count it down….threeeeeee…twooooo….oneeeeee!<hr>Here’s the event running order for the evening:Round 1 – Five sets, with the players coming into the auction being divided as per their playing roles – Batters, Wicket-keepers, All-rounders, Fast Bowlers, Spin BowlersRound 2 –&nbsp;The Express Round, where the franchises will submit a list of players from the remaining unsold players, who will be presented until each team as 17 players (excluding Wildcard and Rookie)Round 3 – The Rookie Draft, where 89 Rookie players, who haven’t been picked up at the Auction, are available to be selected, and MI Cape Town would have the first pick.&nbsp;<hr>4:00pm SAST | 7:30pm IST: Howzit Kaapstad! Hello, hello! It’s the SA20 2025 Auction, and we, at MI Cape Town, are super excited to bring you the buys, the misses, the steals, the strategies, and everything else under the sun (or rather the lights of The Westin Ballroom in Cape Town) on this special night from our Blue and Gold lens as we spruce up our squad. Right then, here’s the math for you: Three slots including one overseas player and one rookie player. The purse is at 8,275,000 Rand. Bring. It. On.&nbsp;

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