Pooran, Smith lead MI Cape Town to squeaky win v Joburg Super Kings

Jason Smith struck three sixes from just seven balls in his innings of 22 to grab an unlikely victory for MI Cape Town against the Joburg Super Kings in their SA20 match at Newlands on Sunday night.

A rasping 44 from 21 balls by Faf du Plessis led JSK to a total of 123-7 from their 12 overs in a rain-disrupted fixture, but Trinidadian Nichola Pooran’s 33 from 15 balls (5x6) and Smith did just enough to secure victory for the home side as they reached 128-6 from 11.2 overs.

Afghan allrounder Karim Janat pulled his first delivery for six to ease a tense run chase in the 19th over after Rassie van der Dussen had attempted to lay a foundation with 35 from 24 balls.

The wait is over 🥳🔵

MI Cape Town get their first win of season four ✅#SSCricket | #BetwaySA20 pic.twitter.com/jdMS3XC19l — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) January 6, 2026

Earlier 41-year-old Du Plessis hammered a vintage 43 from just 18 balls with seven fours and two sixes before drizzle, which delayed the start of play by an hour, returned after six overs and forced the players from the field.

Du Plessis watched opening partner, James Vince, slice a catch to mid off and Dian Forrester edge Corbin Bosch to ‘keeper Ryan Rickelton.

Du Plessis drove MICT captain Rashid Khan to long off just three balls after the restart where Reeza Hendricks claimed a brilliant boundary-juggling catch and Donovan Ferreira (7) hoiked Kagiso Rabada into the gloves of Rickelton.

Matthew de Villiers (21 from 15 balls) was bowled by Bosch and the early momentum was understandably lost in the curtailed innings.

Bosch was the pick of the bowlers with 3-24 from his three overs while super stars Trent Boult (2-0-29-0) and Kagiso Rabada (2-0-27-1) received blunt treatment from Du Plessis.

The home side and defending champions still find themselves in the ‘last chance saloon’ after just six matches which have yielded four losses and just two points courtesy of a washout against the Durban Super Giants at Kingsmead before tonight’s victory.

Three more wins are essential to keep their ailing playoff hopes alive.

The Super Kings, however, remain well placed for the playoffs sitting two points behind the Sunrisers Eastern Cape with both teams having now played five matches.

MI CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (capt), Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult.

JOBURG SUPER KINGS: Faf du Plessis (capt), Wiaan Mulder, James Vince, Matthew de Villiers, Donovan Ferreira (wkt), Shubham Ranjane, Akeal Hosein, Prenelan Subrayen, Dian Forrester, Nandre Burger, Richard Gleeson