MI Cape Town were crowned SA20 champions after defeating the two-time title winners in the Wanderers final.

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

MI Cape Town spearhead Kagiso Rabada delivered an inspired performance with the ball to lead his team to their maiden SA20 title at a sold-out Wanderers on Saturday.

Rabada claimed 4-25 to dismiss the Sunrisers Eastern Cape for just 105 in response to MI Cape Town’s 181-8.

The fast bowler also claimed a brilliant diving catch at point to send Sunrisers skipper Aiden Markram back to the dugout at critical juncture to swing the game into MI Cape Town’s favour.

Rabada was ably supported by the MI Cape Town spinners George Linde (2-20) and Rashid Khan (1-19).

Having won the toss and elected to bat, MI Cape Town announced their intent from the outset with Ryan Rickelton racing to 33 off 15 balls (one four, four sixes) to lift his team to 51 within the first five overs.

Rickelton fell soon after, though, deceived by a slower ball from Craig Overton, and was followed shortly thereafter by Reeza Hendricks (nought) as MI Cape Town closed out the powerplay on 52-2 – the highest total conceded by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at the six-over mark across the competition.

Rickelton also passed Durban’s Super Giants’ Heinrich Klaasen as the leading run-scorer in SA20 history with 1,012 runs across the three editions.

The Sunrisers kept chipping away with the further wicket of Rassie van der Dussen (23 off 25 balls), who fell just four runs shy of passing the competition’s leading run-scorer Lhuan-dre Pretorius.

MI Cape Town regained their composure through a couple of middle-order partnerships with the 50 runs off just 30 balls between Dewald Brevis (38 off 18 balls) and Connor Esterhuizen (39 off 26) proving pivotal in getting Robin Peterson’s team up to a winning total.

HIGHLIGHTS: SA20 final – MI Cape Town vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape

The Sunrisers needed a strong start to give them a chance, but their struggles with the bat in the powerplay continued with David Bedingham and Jordan Hermann both back in the dugout with only eight runs on the board.

Abell and Tony de Zorzi battled hard to rebuild the innings with a 57-run partnership for the third wicket.

But they fell within three runs of each other to Linde and Rashid respectively to leave the Sunrisers precariously placed on 68-4.

And when Markram followed shortly afterwards, the Sunrisers’ reign as two-time SA20 champions was drawing to a close with Rabada providing the coup de grace for MI Cape Town.

Photo: Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics

MI Cape Town cruised to a 76-run win against defending champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

The 2025 SA20 is set for an epic conclusion with double defending champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town meeting in the final on Saturday.

The iconic Wanderers in Johannesburg, which hosted the inaugural SA20 final, will once again provide the backdrop for the grand occasion, which is set to get underway at 5:30pm.

The Sunrisers have recovered from inconsistent performances during the league stage to hit peak form during the playoffs by winning both the eliminator playoff and second qualifier playoff to secure their third successive place in the SA20 showpiece.

MI Cape Town will be tasting the rarefied finals air for the first time after being the dominant side during the league stage with Rashid Khan’s team setting a new record of 35 points.

They maintained that momentum through to the first playoff qualifier where they breezed past the Paarl Royals on Tuesday to secure a straight passage to the final.

The Sunrisers have the benefit of having experienced the unique Bullring atmosphere before, when they lifted the SA20 trophy for the first time back in 2023.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Sunrisers captain Aiden Markram said. “Apparently it’s been sold out weeks ago already, so already the hype will be there. For players, that’s really cool. Not just myself, I think all the boys are really keen.

“We love playing in front of full stadiums and the atmosphere at Wanderers when it’s full is almost like no other. I’m looking forward to that. It’s always a special occasion – a final at Wanderers.”

MI Cape Town will be hoping to halt the Sunrisers’ bid to win a hat-trick of titles with captain Rashid Khan believing their amazing journey that started from the very bottom is destined to end in success.

“We were the team at the bottom for two years, now we’re the team at the top,” Rashid said. “We have been playing some amazing cricket for the last month.

“Yes, they have a good experience being finalists the last three years, but I think for us, we’ll be just focusing on playing good cricket and focusing on what we did great in the last month that got us here.

“The best thing is to beat the opposition team with your own skills, make sure whatever the challenge is, we accept that and do well in that.”

The final is shaping up as a battle between the MI Cape Town’s batting unit up against the potent Sunrisers Eastern Cape bowling attack.

MI Cape Town’s explosive opening pair of Rassie van der Dussen (second with 370 runs) and Ryan Rickelton (fourth with 303 runs) along with Dewald Brevis (ninth with 253 runs) are all among the top 10 run-getters in the competition.

The Sunrisers, meanwhile, have four bowlers in Marco Jansen (first with 17 wickets), Liam Dawson (fifth with 12 wickets), Richard Gleeson (seventh with 12 wickets ) and Ottneil Baartman (eighth with 11 wickets) among the top 10 wicket-takers.

“We’ll back our best options, our best bowlers, match-ups and things like that, and hopefully that can work and give us a shot at breaking that partnership,” Markram said. “But they’ve been finding ways to score big, whether the two of them fire or not.

“So, the whole batting lineup for them is doing really well and we’ll have to do some good planning for them. And ultimately on the night, if we can execute it, then I think we give ourselves a good shot.”

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

MI Cape Town dominated with bat and ball at St George’s Park to secure their place in the SA20 final at the Wanderers on Saturday.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Sportzpics

MI Cape Town booked their first appearance in a SA20 final with a 39-run victory over the Paarl Royals in the first qualifier playoff at St George’s Park on Tuesday.

Robin Peterson’s team were superior in all facets from the moment they were inserted by Royals skipper David Miller.

The opening batsmen Ryan Rickelton (44 off 27 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (40 off 32) laid the platform for the imposing 199-4 with an impressive 87-run opening stand in just 9.2 overs.

The Royals staged a mini fightback by picking up three wickets for the addition of just six runs to leave MI Cape Town at 91-3.

The momentum, however, swung back in favour of the table-toppers, with George Linde smashing three sixes in his 14-ball 26.

With the Royals losing their discipline with a couple of waist high full tosses that saw Dayyaan Galiem being forced out of the attack, it allowed Dewald Brevis (44* off 30 balls) and Delano Potgieter (32* off 17 balls) to add 74 runs in the last five overs.

HIGHLIGHTS: MI Cape Town vs Paarl Royals (SA20)

The Royals began their run chase in a positive manner with Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Mitchell Owen taking 21 runs off Trent Boult’s opening over.

Pretorius’ cameo (15 off six balls) was quickly brought to an end by Kagiso Rabada, though.

The Royals were unable to build up any momentum from thereon with only captain David Miller offering up any resistance with a 26-ball 45.

There were further celebrations for MI Cape Town when captain Rashid Khan became the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket when he went past West Indian Dwayne Bravo by clean bowling Royals all-rounder Dunith Wellalage.

The Royals will have another opportunity to reach the final in Thursday’s second qualifier playoff in Centurion.

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

MI Cape Town booked their place in the SA20 final with a 39-run win in the first playoff qualifier at St George’s Park.

The top two teams after the SA20 league stage, MI Cape Town and the Paarl Royals, will meet in the first playoff qualifier at St George’s Park on Tuesday.

The two Western Cape sides both won seven out of 10 matches, which included historic five-match unbeaten streaks at home, to earn the first chance to reach the final.

The Royals will be missing one half of their own potent opening combination with former England captain Joe Root having departed for international duty last week.

However, Teenage starlet Lhuan-dre Pretorius remains a formidable force in the powerplay, while the Royals have been boosted by the return of their captain, David Miller, who missed the last two matches due to injury.

“Yeah, it’s feeling good. I took a week off and have done a fitness test and it seems to be going well. We’ll see how we pull up tomorrow [Tuesday] morning,” Miller said.

“I think it’s fair to say that you can’t really replace someone like Root – his calibre and what he’s achieved in this competition and given us – but I truly believe that we’ve got a squad that is very adaptable. I’ve spoken all season about that.

“The guys coming in are super, super positive and really skillful as well. [Australian] Mitch Owen [who replaced Root] gives us the power up front and he can bowl as well. So really chuffed with his addition.”

Miller’s team were the first to qualify for the playoffs, but MI Cape Town have hit a purple patch heading into Tuesday’s qualifier.

The Royals skipper says his team has accepted the challenge.

“Yeah, they seem to be on fire, but it’s a great opportunity for us to knock them off [their perch]. They’re a phenomenal team and have got a lot of match winners in their team.

“But I truly believe in T20 it’s about really seizing the moments and it takes just one or two guys to really stand up.”

While the Royals have progressed to the playoffs every season since the competition’s inception, this will be MI Cape Town’s first appearance after two poor seasons.

They will once again be reliant on their in-form top order of Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks to lay the platform before the explosive hitters consisting of Dewald Brevis, George Linde and Delano Potgieter take strike.

Their charge will be led by their impressive captain Rashid Khan, who fully embraced the Newlands faithful this season.

“We haven’t had many wins in the first two years for them – only three out of 10 games – but this year, we had five out of five,” he said. “The way they came out and supported the team was amazing and beautiful. It gives us as a team so much energy inside the field.

“We are looking forward to giving them the trophy this year.”

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

Sediqullah Atal and Connor Esterhuizen set up MI Cape Town’s 95-run victory against the Pretoria Capitals at Newlands.

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics

MI Cape Town underlined their status as the SA20 team to beat this season with a comprehensive victory over the Pretoria Capitals at at Newlands on Sunday.

Robin Peterson’s team followed in the Paarl Royals’ footsteps by becoming the second team to preserve an unbeaten home record with five victories at the foot of Table Mountain.

MI Cape Town finished on 35 points – a record points tally after the league phase – due to their 95-run victory over the Capitals.

Despite making six changes to their lineup, the home team dominated the contest from the outset.

The new opening pair of Sediqullah Atal and Connor Esterhuizen displayed MI Cape Town’s formidable depth with a stunning 133-run stand for the first wicket.

Left-hander Sediqullah royally entertained the Newlands crowd with a dashing 46-ball 77 (four fours, six sixes), while Esterhuizen pummelled 69 off 43 balls (six fours, three sixes).

Delano Potgieter added the extras with a 15-ball 26 to power the hosts to 201-5 – the highest total at Newlands this season.

The momentum flowed through to MI Cape Town’s bowling unit with off-spinner Dane Piedt sensationally having Capitals opener Will Jacks caught behind off the very first ball of the reply.

Piedt, who was making his SA20 debut for his home town team, celebrated in wild fashion by running away to the Railway Stand in ecstasy.

The veteran off-spinner was in fine form as he picked up two further wickets to finish with the impressive figures of 3-28, which earned him the Man of the Match award.

“It has been amazing. I have grown up here. Played in front of my wife, son and parents,” said Piedt.

“I keep the guys motivated. I try to create good energy and get the guys to express themselves. I have been watching this from afar. But it has been amazing. This is what we have been calling out for. Can’t drop a Man of the Match.”

The MI Cape Town spinners were in fine form with leg-spinner Thomas Kaber bagging 3-21, while left-arm spinner George Linde also claimed 2-11.

Collectively, the spin trio claimed 8-60 to dismiss the Capitals for just 106 in 14 overs.

HIGHLIGHTS: MI Cape Town vs Pretoria Capitals (SA20)

MI Cape Town now travel to Gqeberha to face Paarl Royals in the first qualifier playoff at St George’s Park on Tuesday.

The winner advances straight through to the final at the Wanderers on Saturday.

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics