Conway leads DSG to record score

Devon Conway cracked a half-century to help the Durban Super Giants reach a record 232 for five against MI Cape Town in the opening match of the fourth edition of the Betway SA20 at WSB Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday evening.

DSG surpassed the previous highest score at Newlands of 204 for three, set by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in February 2024 against DSG. Conway smashed seven fours and two sixes from 33 balls before falling for 64, caught at deep backward square-leg by Jason Smith from the bowling of Trent Boult (4-0-32-1).

Conway and Kane Williamson (40) set the stage for the massive total with an opening stand of 96 from just 52 deliveries. Williamson himself was just as aggressive, cracking seven boundaries from 25 balls before being the first to fall, brilliantly caught by Rashid Khan from the bowling of Tristan Luus (4-0-50-1), running back from mid-off to take the catch over his shoulder at full stretch.

Jos Buttler (20) continued to onslaught, cracking two fours and a six in a short 12-ball stay while Heinrich Klaasen (22) struck the same amount of boundaries, not taking full advantage of the life given to him by Rashid (4-0-44-0) from his own bowling when on 13.

Markram, who also received a life by Rashid from the bowling of Boult when on 16, went on to make 35 from 17 balls with five fours and a six before being stumped by Ryan Rickelton from the bowling of George Linde (4-0-46-2), who also had Klaasen caught by Corbin Bosch at long on.

Evan Jones (33 not out) made sure of the highest total seen at Newlands in the SA20, striking four boundaries and two maximums from his 14 deliveries faced. He, along with David Wiese (9 not out), added 29 unbeaten runs from only 11 balls.

The home side’s bowlers, besides for Boult, were no where in the contest, allowing the Super Giants’ batsmen to play the ball to all parts of the majestic stadium under lights. MICT will need to pull out all the stops if they are break yet more records if they are to avoid losing their opening match as defending champions.

MI CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Nicholas Pooran, George Linde, Jason Smith, Corbin Bosch, Dwaine Pretorius, Rashid Khan (capt), Tristan Luss, Trent Boult.

DURBAN SUPER GIANTS: Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Jos Buttler (wk), Aiden Markram (capt), Heinrich Klaasen, Evan Jones, Daivd Wiese, Eathan Bosch, Simon Harmer, Kwena Maphaka, Noor Ahmed.