Ryan Rickelton clubbed an outstanding half-century to help MI Cape Town secure a seven-wicket bonus point win over Durban Super Giants at Newlands on Saturday night.
Rickelton smeared six sixes and three fours on his way to 63 off 41 deliveries. George Linde and Dewald Brevis stitched an unbeaten 35-run fourth-wicket partnership as they raced to 154/3 in 14.5 overs. Brevis was unbeaten on 26 off 16 and Linde had lit up the Newlands skylight with an eight-ball 29. Earlier in the night, the home side had restricted the Super Giants to 149/6.
The Super Giants waited until the 11th for their first big over. Heinrich Klaasen and Kane Williamson plundered 14 runs off Corbin Bosch. MI Cape Town's first big one came in the sixth over. Junior Dala fluffed his lines and Rickelton made him pay, bludgeoning 22 of the 25 runs the over cost the visitors.
Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen (24) whittled off close to half of the required runs in six overs. The pair shared a 75-run opening stand.
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“Ryan Rickelton has been outstanding for us in the powerplay and he has had Rassie supporting him at the other hand,” Rashid Khan shared after the match.
Rickelton trotted to a 37-ball half-century. His seventh in the tournament, the second of the season, and his fourth at Newlands. He looked good until, in an ironic twist, Dala curtailed the left-hander’s knock. The pacer found his range in his second over and handed his captain Rickelton's wicket on a platter. However, it was too little too late. MICape Town needed 52 runs in eight overs.
Dewald Brevis bid his time and waited for the bad balls. Dala served three in his third over and the 21-year-old clobbered three consecutive fours off them. The over turned out to be another expensive one from the pacer.
Unlike the MI Cape Town batters, who were on the charge from the first over, Heinrich Klaasen and Kane Williamson bided their time before playing expansive shots. MI Cape Town bowled well, giving little away, and thus asking the opposition to take risks if they wanted to score boundaries.
Klaasen scored at a run-a-ball through most of his innings. The Proteas star turned up the heat in the 17th over, when he launched three consecutive sixes off Rashid Khan as he cantered to a 36-ball 50. This is his eighth half-century in three seasons. Klaasen bashed five fours and four sixes for his brilliant 66 off 43.
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Klaasen entertained the crowd from the seventh to the 20th over when he pulled a Corbin Bosch delivery straight to Reeza Hendricks at deep mid-wicket. He shared a brilliant 121-run partnership with Williamson.
The New Zealander came into the match with a single half-century and a score of 44 under his belt. The 34-year-old faced 43 deliveries to register his second half-ton in the tournament. His unbeaten 56 off 44 steered the visitors to a competitive total.
Rashid Khan was MI Cape Town's most successful bowler with two wickets for 34 runs in four overs. Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult and George Linde finished with a wicket each.
MI CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Corbin Bosch, Rashid Khan (capt), Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult.
DURBAN'S SUPER GIANTS: Matthew Breetzke, Brandon King, Quinton de Kock (wk), Kane Williamson, Wiaan Mulder, Marcus Stoinis, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Junior Dala, Prenelan Subrayen, Noor Ahmed.