Zaahier Adams at Newlands
Kagiso Rabada delivered an inspired spell to compliment Reeza Hendricks’ half-century and help MI Cape Town own the bragging rights in the first instalment of the SA20 Western Cape derby at Newlands on Monday evening.
Rabada claimed the big wickets of Royals openers Joe Root and Lhaun-dre Pretorius after the Royals pair had begun their pursuit of MI Cape Town’s 172/7 as if they had a train to catch back to Paarl.
Root was imperious with his delicate switch-hits, while his teenage opening partner Pretorius simply carried on from his debut 97.
Perhaps it’s the fearlessness of youth, but the 18-year-old showed scant respect for the legend that is Trent Boult.
With New Zealand left-arm paceman Boult slanting the ball into his pads, Pretorius clipped the swinging delivery effortlessly into the Railway Stand for a six that he will remember for a long time.
MI Cape Town had missed a trick, though, by not partnering Boult with Proteas talisman Rabada.
Once this was rectified, Rabada made an immediate impression by having Root caught down at short fine leg, before having Pretorius caught at deep third man by a diving Dewald Brevis.
Rabada’s figures read a remarkable 2-2-0-2 at that juncture.
✅ Joe Root
✅ Lhuan-dre Pretorius
There's a reason why they call him 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐚😏
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The Royals were unable to build any partnerships from thereon, with only Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman providing the travelling support with something to smile about as he smashed 34 off just 20 balls.
MICT spin twins George Linde and Rashid Khan took control of the middle overs as the paired up for the combined figures of 5/43.
3️⃣ / 1️⃣5️⃣ in 24 deliveries. This is a George Fredrik Linde appreciation post 🫡💙#MICapeTown #OneFamily #MICTvPR #BetwaySA20 pic.twitter.com/XkYH5sJJan
— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) January 13, 2025
It had been a slow start to Reeza Hendricks’ MI Cape Town career, with the Proteas opener failing to get out of the starting blocks in the first two matches.
But a first home game in the blue seemed to be the inspiration Hendricks required, with the stylish right-hander showing off his class that will quickly endear him to the Newlands faithful.
His innings of 59 was pure placement and timing, almost delicate in places and at odds with the brute force so often associated with the T20 format. It took a mere 37 balls, containing eight fours and a six.
Having lost opening partner Ryan Rickelton – who was back in the MICT line-up for the first time this season – early when he chipped Bjorn Fortuin to mid-off, Hendricks found the perfect ally in his old Lions teammate Rassie van der Dussen.
The pair batted in beautiful symmetry, adding 78 off 54 balls for the second wicket to set up the MICT innings.
Van der Dussen’s demise for 43 off 33 balls, clean-bowled by Dayaan Galiem, sparked a mini middle-order collapse, though.
Colin Ingram and Linde fell within five runs of each other, and when Hendricks was bamboozled by Mujeeb’s trickery, there was a real concern that the home team’s entire innings may fall away.
Fortunately they have arguably the most in-form death hitter within their ranks at the moment as Potgieter – for the third consecutive game – brought late impetus to the MICT innings.
Potgieter blasted 29 off just 18 balls (2x4, 2x6) to push MICT up to ultimately a winning total. | Independent Media Sport
Delano Potgieter is a master at smashing those slow balls 😏🏏
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) January 13, 2025
The Newlands crowd loved this one 👇
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Brief Scores
MI Cape Town 172/7 (Reeza Hendricks 59, Rassie van der Dussen 43; Dayaan Galiem 3/24)
Paarl Royals 139/9 (Mujeeb Ur Rahman 34, Joe Root 26; George Linde 3/15, Kagiso Rabada 2/22)
MI Cape Town won by 33 runs