Kieron Pollard and George Linde partially led Mumbai Indians Cape Town to a stumbling, scruffy and consolation victory by three-wickets with four balls to spare in their SA20 match against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Newlands on Friday night.
Requiring just 140 to win the home side slumbered to 52-3 in the ninth over before Linde asserted some authority with 31 from 18 balls (2x4, 2x6) while captain Nicholas Pooran blasted 17 from 11 balls.
When Pollard, replacing Rashid Khan in the line-up, bashed 20 from 14 balls it seemed victory would be comfortable but the defending champions miserable season continued with an unedifying crawl over the line with four balls to spare – courtesy of a no-ball in the final over from spinner Senuran Muthusamy.
The home side needed to win with a bonus point to have any realistic hope of reaching the play-offs but when in-form openers Ryan Rickelton (11) and Rassie van der Dussen (8) were caught attempting to create early momentum, it became a case of simply trying to win. Reeza Hendricks plodded happily to 41 from 43 balls with just three fours to anchor (and almost sink) the run-chase.
Earlier Marco Jansen revived the Sunrisers with a typically rumbustious 42 from 23 deliveries after a strangely subdued innings which finished on 139-9. Jansen arrived at the crease with the visitors in disarray at 69-5 and smote four sixes and three fours to boost the total towards respectability with Englishman James Coles contributing 28 from 27 balls with a four and six.
The home side needed early momentum and it couldn’t have arrived sooner when Trent Boult (4-0-28-3) had Quinton de Kock caught behind by Ryan Rickelton off the first ball of the match. Jonny Bairstow (15) was trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada and Matthew Breetzke’s pedestrian 16 from 20 balls ended with a hoik against the excellent Corbin Bosch (4-34). Jordan Hermann (12 off 18 balls) pulled George Linde to the midwicket boundary.
When captain Stubbs (4) departed his team were set for an implosion but Jansen’s dazzling cameo at least given the visitors a chance, but it was one they couldn’t take. Despite the generous opportunities offered by the home side.
MI CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Jason Smith, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, George Linde, Dane Piedt, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult,
SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: Jonny Bairstow, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Matthew Breetzke, Jordan Hermann, Tristan Stubbs (captain), Marco Jansen, Lewis Gregory, Senuran Muthusamy, James Coles, Anrich Nortje, Adam Milne.