Pretoria Capitals registered their first win of the SA20 season in emphatic fashion, thrashing MI Cape Town by 85 runs to secure a crucial bonus point. In the other fixture of the day, skipper David Miller led from the front as Paarl Royals defeated two-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape by five wickets.
A blistering late assault from Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford powered Pretoria Capitals to a daunting 220 for five. The unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership added 86 runs off just 27 balls, with Brevis smashing 36 not out off 13 deliveries, while Rutherford hammered 47 not out from only 15 balls. The duo launched six consecutive sixes during their onslaught, as the Capitals plundered 72 runs in the final three overs.
Earlier, Wihan Lubbe anchored the innings with a 36-ball 60, striking seven fours and two sixes, while Shai Hope provided solid support with a brisk 45 off 30 balls. MI Cape Town pacer Kagiso Rabada endured a tough return from injury, conceding 48 runs while picking up two wickets in his four overs.
In response, MI Cape Town were bundled out for 135 in just 14.2 overs. Rutherford capped off a remarkable all-round performance with figures of 4 for 24, while Keshav Maharaj claimed three wickets for 28 runs. Tymal Mills, Lizaad Williams and Bryce Parsons chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Despite promising starts from the top order—Rassie van der Dussen (28), Ryan Rickelton (33), Reeza Hendricks (18) and Nicholas Pooran (25 off six balls)—MI Cape Town failed to build meaningful partnerships and collapsed under pressure.
In the second match, David Miller delivered a captain’s knock, scoring an unbeaten 71 off 38 balls to guide Paarl Royals to a five-wicket win over Sunrisers Eastern Cape with two balls to spare. The chase came after Sunrisers were bowled out for 149 in 20 overs at their home ground in Gqeberha.
Nqobani Mokoena starred with the ball for the Royals, picking up four wickets for 34 runs, while Ottneil Baartman claimed three for 36. Jordan Hermann top-scored for the Sunrisers with 47, while Jonny Bairstow added a handy 33 at the top. Quinton de Kock endured a brief stay, departing for just seven.
The Royals’ chase got off to a shaky start as Marco Jansen (2/25) and Anrich Nortje (2/21) reduced them to 35 for four inside seven overs. However, Miller steadied the innings with a counter-attacking display, striking four fours and five sixes. He found excellent support from Keagan Lion-Cachet, who chipped in with 45 off 40 balls, as the pair added a match-winning 114-run stand for the fifth wicket.
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