Led by a stunning half-century from Sherfane Rutherford, Pretoria Capitals thrashed MI Cape Town by 53 runs in their Betway SA20 match in Centurion on Monday.
The Pretoria franchise gained their victory with a bonus point, enabling them to shoot to the top of the table, one point ahead of Sunrisers Eastern Cape, albeit having played an extra game.
By contrast, last season's champions MI Cape Town remain at the bottom of the log and they now have a tough job making the playoffs.
It's a huge win for Pretoria Capitals 👏
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) January 12, 2026
They move to the top of the table 🔵🔝#SSCricket | #BetwaySA20 pic.twitter.com/y2tZuMOfZK
Rutherford’s scintillating half-century came in 27 balls and included three fours and five sixes.
It was his first half-century in SA20 and took his side to a respectable 185-6.
Such was the ferocity of his assault, in league with Dewald Brevis, that the home team’s innings was transformed from a very moderate 101-4 after 15 overs with an injection of 84 runs in the final five overs.
In their replay, MICT slumped to 132-7 with only Reeza Hendricks (68 not out in 50 balls) giving their total respectability.
His late burst of scoring came way too late, however, with the result of the match having already been decided.
Centurion has a reputation as a batters’ track, but both sides struggled for long periods on an uneven surface against some fine bowling with player of the match Rutherford making the key difference.
MICT had put their opponents in to bat after winning the toss, believing that the pitch would get easier over time. It didn’t pan out that way, although the visitors’ batters made the Capitals’ job that much easier with some ill-judged shots.
Rassie van der Dussen (15) holed out to long-on, the in-form Ryan Rickelton spooned a hook to point off Gideon Peters while Nicholas Pooran, after hitting a huge six, sliced Andre Russell to short third man.
Peters really stamped his influence on the game when he bowled a double wicket-maiden, a rarity in this format, when he had Corbin Bosch and Karim Janat caught in the deep by Brevis, with his second catch, diving forward to grasp the ball centimetres from the ground, an absolute stunner.
Thereafter it was easy for the Capitals with Hendricks striking four fours and four sixes at the death when the result was already set in stone.
All Pretoria's bowlers impressed, with Peters claiming 3-32. Their outfielding too, was greatly superior to that of MICT.
BOULT PUNISHED
Earlier, the Capitals also had their problems with the bat.
Indeed at one point, MI Cape Town were bossing the match after restricting the home team to 101-4 after 15 overs.
Then came the acceleration which began in the 16th over which was littered with full-tosses from Trent Boult.
Twenty runs came off that over and another two maximums were struck by Brevis off Kagiso Rabada in the next.
To make matters worse there were two dropped catches, offering reprieves for both batters.
The pair added 69 off 34 balls for the fifth wicket, a franchise record, before Brevis departed for 34 off 19 balls but Andre Russell and Rutherford continued the late momentum of the innings.
The 19th over, delivered by Karim Janat, went for 24 as Rutherford reached his first SA20 half-century off 24 balls.
Boult’s final over went for a relatively modest 10 runs with Rutherford well caught in the deep by Pooran off the final ball of the innings.
Nevertheless the big-hitting left-hander, who has been so consistent for his franchise, had helped his team past the 180 mark, striking three fours and five sixes in the process.
𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 🏅
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 12, 2026
Big hits never looked this good. Sherfane Rutherford gets the nod#BetwaySA20 #PCvMICT #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/7NvUELDeOS
Until Rutherford’s intervention, the MI Cape Town bowlers, apart from Boult (1-49), had choked the life out of the Pretoria batters, bowling with great accuracy and consistency and forcing many mistimed shots.
George Linde was particularly effective up front claiming 1-19 off three, including the scalp of the dangerous Shai Hope, beaten in the flight and offering a catch to cover.
Connor Esterhuizen did strike five fours in his 24, but Wihan Lubbe and Jordan Cox were unable to change gears against Rashid Khan (1-24 in four) and Corbin Bosch (1-31 in four) as well as Rabada who looked in particularly good rhythm when he claimed 2-18 in his first three overs.
PRETORIA CAPITALS: Shai Hope (wk), Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Cox, Wihan Lubbe, Dewald Brevis, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, Gideon Peters
MI CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Smith, George Linde, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (capt), Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult