Matthew Breetzke stood up when it mattered in a nervy chase at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth. Matthew Breetzke played a determined anchor knock and almost took his side over the line falling in the final over of the game with handful runs to get. But before that, the bowlers did a stellar job to restrict MI Cape Town to 148/6 despite a stellar unbeaten 70 off 44 balls from Reeza Hendricks. Chris Green was the star with the ball for Eastern Cape with figures of 3/29 in 4 overs.
In reply chasing 149 for the win, Sunrisers Eastern Cape rode on half-centuries from Matthew Breetzke and Quinton de Kock as well with the hosts suffering some nervy moments in the end before getting over the line with 7 wickets and one ball to spare. Corbin Bosch did pick up 2 wickets but it was too little too late for the defending champions MI Cape Town.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape with this win finished on top of the points table with 28 points from 10 games while MI Cape Town are officially eliminated now with 14 points from 10 games and will get the wooden spoon as well in 6th place.
Chris Green’s 3-wicket haul restricts MI Cape Town to 148/6
Put into bat first, Rassie van der Dussen and keeper batter Ryan Rickelton opened the batting for MI Cape Town while Marco Jansen had the ball in hand for Sunrisers Eastern Cape. It was a sedate start for MICT as Rickelton had a troubled stay in the middle while Rassie tried to manouvre the bowling. The opening duo put on 11 runs in 3.4 overs before Rickelton fell for 2 off 10 balls by Chris Green as he was struck plumb in front.
Reeza Hendricks came out to bat next and was quickly off the blocks. Hendricks and Rassie tried to build a solid stand as they played through the powerplay as well. The powerplay score for MI Cape Town was 43/1 in 6 overs. The duo carried on after that with Hendricks showing more intent than Rassie. They put on 60 for the second wicket before Rassie fell for a laboured 21 off 24 balls with one six to his name as he was cleaned up by Green with the score reading 71/2 in 10 overs. at the halfway stage of the innings.
Nicholas Pooran the captain came out to bat next as the duo tried to rebuild things for the Cape Town team. Pooran did not last long as after 7 more runs were added to the score, Pooran fell for 2 off 8 balls to James Coles as the batter was cleaned up. George Linde came out to bat next and the duo now complimented each other really well. Linde was quickly off the blocks and played the role of aggressor while Hendricks played his natural game trying to build a solid stand for the end overs.
The duo added 33 runs for the 4th wicket to add some impetus to the innings before Linde fell for a well made 30 off 17 balls with 4 sixes to his name as Green picked up another wicket. Big man Kieron Pollard came out to bat next with 4.1 overs left. But Pollard did not last long as with just 4 more runs added to the tally, Pollard fell for a 6-ball duck as he was cleaned by Marco Jansen. Jason Smith came out to bat next with the score at 115/5 in 17 overs and 3 overs to go.
Reeza completed his half-century and switched gears in the end overs while Smith slowly got himself in to give the team a finishing kick to the innings. The duo added quickfire 31 runs in 16 balls before Jason Smith fell for 14 off 10 balls with one four and one six to his name to Anrich Nortje as the score was 146/6 in 19.4 overs. Corbin Bosch came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Reeza Hendricks came in early and played right through till the end remaining unbeaten on 70 off 44 balls with 8 fours and one six to his name while Bosch was with him on 1* off 1 ball as the innings from Hendricks gave MI Cape Town a fighting 148/6 in 20 overs. Just 8 extras given by the fielding side.
Chris Green was the pick of the bowlers for Sunrisers Eastern Cape finishing with 3/29 in 4 overs. Marco Jansen finished with 1/29 in 4 overs. James Coles finished with 1/17 in 3 overs. Anrich Nortje finished with 1/24 in 3 overs. Milne bowled 3 balls for 2 runs before going off the field with an injury. Tristan Stubbs the captain bowled 2.3 overs for 11 runs. Senuran Muthusamy was expensive as he went for 35 runs in 3 overs. It meant that Sunrisers Eastern Cape needed 149 runs to win the contest and finish on top of the points table.
Half-centuries from Matthew Breetzke and Quinton de Kock helps Sunrisers Eastern Cape get over the line with a ball to spare
Chasing 149 for the win, keeper batter Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow came out to open for Sunrisers Eastern Cape while Trent Boult had ball in hand for MI Cape Town. The duo got of to a steady start but could not keep it going. They added 15 runs in just over 2 overs before Bairstow fell for 10 off 7 balls with 2 fours to his name to Kagiso Rabada as the MICT had an early breakthrough. Matthew Breetzke came out to bat next.
Breetzke took his time initially as de Kock also played according to the situation. The powerplay score for Sunrisers was 37/1 in 6 overs and off to a steady start. The duo then aced the middle phase and played great shots when in full flow. Both of them complimented each other really well. Both the players made equal contribution to the partnership that just grew in stature. The duo slowly took the game away from MI Cape Town who were now feeling the heat in a must-win clash. They took the chase from the middle overs phase to the death overs phase and put on 109 off 90 balls dropping anchor.
The score was 124 after 17 overs for the loss of one wicket when the requirement was 25 needed off 18 balls when Quinton fell after completing his half-century falling for 56 off 49 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes to his name to Corbin Bosch. Jordan Hermann came out to join Breetzke in the middle. The duo took the side within touching distance of the win as Hermann played his shot while Breetzke completed a half-century. The duo put on 23 runs in 14 balls before Breetzke fell for a very well made 66 off 55 balls with 8 fours to his name.
Sunrisers now needed 2 off 3 balls with 7 wickets in hand when captain Tristan Stubbs came out to bat. He got off the mark straightaway. Jordan Hermann managed to hit the winning runs off the next ball as the Eastern Cape got to the target in 19.5 overs winning by 7 wickets with Hermann unbeaten on 12 off 8 balls with one six to his name while Stubbs was unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball. 4 extras given by the fielding side.
Corbin Bosch picked up a couple of wickets for MI Cape Town finishing with 2/29 in 2.5 overs while Kagiso Rabada finished with 1/31 in 4 overs. The others went wicketless. Trent Boult finished with 0/37 in 4 overs. Dane Piedt finished with 0/20 in 4 overs. George Linde finished with 0/16 in 4 overs. Reeza Hendricks bowled an over for 15 runs. So, Sunrisers Eastern Cape win by 7 wickets with one ball to spare to finish on top of the points table with 28 points from 10 games while MI Cape Town bow out of the tournament.
What Lies Ahead
Coming up next is the 30th and final match of SA20 2026 as 3rd placed Paarl Royals host 5th placed Joburg Super Kings live from Boland Park in Paarl on Monday, 19th January 2026 from 9 PM IST onwards. The equation is simple for the Super Kings. They win they go through to the playoffs as the 4th team while if they lose they bow out and Durban Super Giants who are in 4th place go through to the playoffs. Paarl Royals will want to win to finish in second place as a win will help them get there.
Let’s see how the final league game of SA20 2026 turns out as nothing less than a win will do for Super Kings. Even a no result due to rain will mean elimination for the Super Kings. A high stakes match in prospect.
Also Read: SA20 2026: Corbin Bosch’s 4-Wicket Haul Helps MI Cape Town Keep Their Playoffs Hopes Alive