MI Cape Town (MICT) has had wretched seasons in the first two editions of SA20, South Africa's T20 franchise league, finishing at the bottom of the points table.
However, an upturn in their fortunes saw MICT make a perfect start to their campaign in the SA20 Season 3 with a commanding 97-run victory over defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the tournament opener at St George's Park, Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, on Thursday.
MICT dominated all facets of the game in their opening match with South African batter Dewald Brevis smashing 57 off just 29 balls (2x4; 6x6) to lift the visitors to 174/7 before Delano Potgieter and Trent Boult combined to dismiss the Sunrisers for just 77.
Potgieter claimed the dreamlike career-best figures of 5-10, but it was the New Zealand international Boult (2-16) that set the tone with a superb new-ball spell that yielded a double-wicket maiden third over.
The 35-year-old showed his ability to swing the new ball back into the right-hander, which accounted for Sunrisers’ England Test opener Zak Crawley. Boult showed that he will be a major addition not only to the MICT squad with his high skill sets.
It was the first time that MICT had beaten the Sunrisers in five attempts since the inception of Betway SA20.
And it was only fitting that Brevis played a major role in the victory, delivering on his potential that was first seen in the competition opener at Newlands two seasons ago.
The 21-year-old was in rousing form striking the ball cleanly from the outset. His first task was to take on the dual spin attack of Simon Harmer and Liam Dawson before launching successive straight sixes off seamer Beyers Swanepoel.
Although MICT lost Brevis heading into the final five overs, the momentum was maintained by Potgieter (25 not out, 12 balls) and George Linde (23 not out, 17 balls) with an unbroken 41-run partnership.
The pair took 24 runs off Sunrisers’ Marco Jansen’s final over which swung the momentum in MICT’s favour which they never relinquished for the remainder of the evening.
Brilliant start for us, that is the kind of start you want in such competitions. We had a couple of tough years and then the start…the way Brevis batted and then the way we finished, it was special. He is someone who can change the momentum at any time. He has that skill and ability. He has delivered in the past, it was a brilliant innings under pressure. The way he hit the ball, it was amazing to see.
In T20, you always need a good start, and someone like Boult, who had been doing it for a long time, that experience helps. That gave us a strong base and momentum. Potgieter is a special bowler, a special guy. He has not bowled much in T20s in the last couple of years and he delivered (tonight). So happy for him and all about the way he has adjusted on this wicket.
Sunrisers captain Aiden Markram was disappointed by their defeat in the opening match.
Tough day. There were nice moments, a couple of overs here and there that allowed them to get to 170. Just not at the races with the bat. Will have to have some good conversations. Short turnaround and start afresh.
MICT will now hope to maintain their winning momentum when they face Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers on Saturday, while Sunrisers will look to bounce back against Paarl Royals at Boland Park also on Saturday.
