MI Cape Town delighted a packed Newlands crowd with a dominant 33-run victory over neighbours Paarl Royals in the first Cape Derby of the SA20 Season 3 on Monday. Against the stunning backdrop of a sunset over Table Mountain, the home side delivered a near-flawless performance to claim the derby honours.
Reeza Hendricks, MI Cape Town’s new signing, was the star with the bat, crafting a stylish 59 off 37 balls – his first half-century for the franchise. Hendricks anchored the innings with panache, living up to his reputation as one of the finest T20 players in the country. His 78-run partnership with Rassie van der Dussen (43 off 33 balls) set the foundation for a competitive total of 172/7.
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Delano Potgieter provided a late flourish, smashing an impactful 29 off just 18 balls to ensure MI Cape Town had momentum heading into the second innings.
The Royals started their chase aggressively, with Joe Root (26 off 14 balls) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (26 off 12 balls) combining for a brisk 38 runs in just three overs. However, the introduction of Kagiso Rabada turned the game on its head. Rabada dismissed both Root and Pretorius in quick succession, with each wicket coming in consecutive wicket-maiden overs – an extraordinary feat.
The Royals struggled to regain their footing after Rabada’s blows.
MI Cape Town’s spin duo of George Linde and Rashid Khan then tightened the screws, dismantling the middle order. Linde bowled with precision and control, finishing with remarkable figures of 3/15, while Rashid, as dependable as ever, claimed 2/28.
The visitors eventually succumbed to the relentless pressure, falling well short of the target. The Royals were stopped at 139/9 in their 20 overs. The comprehensive win marked MI Cape Town’s return to form and sent the Newlands faithful home with smiles on their faces.
Looking ahead, the two Western Cape sides will clash again in the second leg of the Cape Derby at Boland Park on Wednesday. MI Cape Town will hope to build on this commanding performance, while the Royals will aim for redemption in front of their home fans.
