MI Cape Town stormed to their first-ever Betway SA20 title in emphatic fashion on Saturday, thanks to a stellar bowling performance led by Kagiso Rabada at a packed Wanderers Stadium.
Rabada rose to the occasion, delivering a match-winning spell of 4/25 as Sunrisers Eastern Cape crumbled to 105 all out in response to MI Cape Town’s formidable 181/8 – the second-highest total ever recorded in a Betway SA20 Final.
Adding to his heroics, Rabada pulled off a spectacular diving catch at point to dismiss Sunrisers captain Aiden Markram at a crucial moment, tilting the game firmly in MI Cape Town’s favor. The speedster received excellent support from the spin duo of George Linde (2/20) and Rashid Khan (1/19), who ensured there was no way back for the defending champions.
“𝙔𝙀𝙎 𝙂𝙀𝙊𝙍𝙂𝙄𝙀”
#MICapeTown #OneFamily #MICTvSEC #BetwaySA20Final | George Linde pic.twitter.com/bUM0qHvkxR
— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) February 10, 2025
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, MI Cape Town came out all guns blazing, with Ryan Rickelton setting the tone. The opener smashed 33 off just 15 balls, including four sixes, propelling his side to a rapid 51/0 in the first five overs.
Although Craig Overton dismissed Rickelton with a well-disguised slower ball, and Reeza Hendricks departed soon after, MI Cape Town still managed to reach 52/2 at the end of the Powerplay – the highest total Sunrisers Eastern Cape had conceded in the first six overs all season.
Rickelton’s contribution was more than just a quickfire start; he also overtook Heinrich Klaasen to become the leading run-scorer in Betway SA20 history with 1,012 runs across three seasons.
Rassie van der Dussen (23 off 25) provided stability in the middle order, falling just short of surpassing Lhuan-dre Pretorius as the competition’s top scorer. However, a crucial 50-run partnership between Dewald Brevis (38 off 18) and Connor Esterhuizen (39 off 26) proved pivotal in pushing MI Cape Town to a competitive total.
Chasing 182, Sunrisers Eastern Cape needed a solid start, but their top-order frailties were exposed early. David Bedingham and Jordan Hermann fell cheaply, leaving them reeling at 8/2.
Tom Abell (30) and Tony de Zorzi (25) attempted to resurrect the innings with a battling 57-run stand for the third wicket. However, their resistance was short-lived, with Linde and Rashid striking in quick succession to reduce Sunrisers to 68/4.
With pressure mounting, Markram’s dismissal to a stunning Rabada catch spelled doom for the reigning champions. MI Cape Town’s bowlers ruthlessly wrapped up the innings, sealing a historic triumph and ensuring Sunrisers’ quest for a third consecutive title ended in disappointment.
Rabada’s brilliance with both the ball and in the field was the defining factor in MI Cape Town’s victory. His fiery spell, combined with disciplined spin from Linde and Rashid, dismantled the Sunrisers’ batting lineup.
With this dominant performance, MI Cape Town has finally etched its name in Betway SA20 history, and Rabada, the architect of their success, has once again proven why he is one of the finest fast bowlers in world cricket.
