Our bowlers were right on the money, the Cape Town Faithful were in their element, Durban’s Super Giants were restricted to 157, and Sam Curran and Dewald Brevis were looking good. But alas, on a turning pitch, their bowlers bowled their cutters into the pitch, and we fell short. 

The Linde-Kaber web 

After choosing to bowl first on a dry pitch, George Linde, with his left-arm orthodox spin, struck twice off consecutive deliveries in the third over to get rid of the dangerous Tony de Zorzi and Quiton de Kock. Thomas Kaber, with his left-arm wrist spin, then joined the act, dried up the runs, and dismissed JJ Smuts and Heinrich Klaasen in quick succession. At 94/5 in the 15^th over, MICT were well on top. 

Mulder’s cameo the difference? 

Just when it looked like DSG would end up with a score around 130, Wiaan Mulder struck a 20-ball 38 at the death, lifted them to 157, and perhaps, made the ultimate difference in the game, setting us our batters a tricky target on a tricky pitch. 

An early wobble and the Sam-infused recovery

Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen didn’t find their usual rhythm, Connor Esterhuizen, promoted to number three, didn’t last long either, and suddenly, MI Cape Town were 39/3 in the seventh over. But Sam Curran – promoted to number four – seemed to have found his timing. In Dewald Brevis, he found a solid ally, as the dup put on 48 runs in 39 balls. Sadly, a full toss from Marcus Stoinis brought about Curran’s downfall, and Noor Ahmed just cleaned up the lower middle-order. And before we knew it, it was it. 

Chin up, folks. Remember, in the 2023 season, Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the title after winning only four league games. We still have four games left, and there is still a long way to go in this tournament. It needs just one day where once things click, they’ll stay clicked.