Some of the big guns were resting. There was a bit of experimentation. But the dominance stayed intact. MI Cape Town, at the top of the table, just strengthened their stay up there. And showed the world just why we are where we are on the points table. 

Atal-Connor do an RR

It just didn’t look like Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton were resting. Sediqullah Atal and Connor Esterhuizen stepped up effortlessly, putting on a 133-run opening stand and laying the foundation for MI Cape Town to get past 200. Striking at nearly 11 runs an over, the two matched each other shot for shot, got half-centuries, and were so pleasing to watch! 

Spin it to win it

Defending 201, the game was sealed inside the powerplay itself. Dane Piedt, off the first ball he’s bowled in the season, got the dangerous Will Jacks. This is how the collapse went:

0-1 (Will Jacks, 0.1)

15-2 (Steve Stolk, 2.2)

32-3 (Will Smeed, 4.2)

32-4 (Marques Ackerman, 4.3)

32-5 (Kyle Verreynne, 4.4)

The PC innings just didn’t recover as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. In the end, Piedt took three, Thomas Kaber took three, George Linde took a couple and Dewald Brevis took one as the Capitals folded out in 14 overs for just 106.

Many firsts

Colin Ingram was captain, and led superbly on the field with his bowling changes absolutely strangling the Pretoria batters.  Piedt, playing his first game of the season, with his three-wicket haul, was named the Player of the Match. Kaber lapped up another three-fer.  

Newlands, you’ve been absolutely stunning through the league stage. Most of our home games were sold you, the backing MI Cape Town got all through was amazing, and we will carry this momentum and energy as we move forward into the playoffs. We now have our next game, the First Qualifier on February 4 in Gqeberha against the Paarl Royals. A win there would take us directly into the Final. Kaapstad, we BELIEVE!