Uncapped South African all-rounder Delano Potgieter starred with the bat in the match-winning performance for MI Cape Town against Paarl Royals . 28-year-old Delano Potgieter scored a quick-fire 32 from 17 balls to power Cape Town to 199 for 4 in Qualifier 1,
Delano Potgieter (born 5 August 1996) is a South African first-class cricketer. Delano Potgieter made his debut for Gauteng against Northerns and was in their 2018 Africa T20 Cup, where he scored the highest number of runs as he ended up with 217 runs from six matches. Delano Potgieter also ended the 2018–19 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge top of Gauteng’s wicket tally with 17 wickets from nine matches.
In September 2019, he played for the Jozi Stars in the Mzansi Super League and then later for the 2019–20 CSA Provincial T20 Cup. In April 2021, he was picked for the South Africa Emerging Men’s team for a tour of Namibia and later that year was included in North West’s squad for the 2021–22 season.
MI Cape Town stormed into the SA20 final with a commanding 39-run victory over Paarl Royals in Qualifier 1 at St George’s Park, Gqeberha. A collective batting effort, spearheaded by Dewald Brevis and Delano Potgieter, followed by a disciplined bowling display, ensured MI Cape Town became the first team to book their place in the grand finale of the tournament.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : The St George’s Park pitch has been a tricky one for batters. The average first-innings total here in SA20 2025 has been 150, proving that stroke play isn’t easy. Batters have to dig in and work for their runs. Fast bowlers who hit the deck hard will enjoy the conditions, while spinners might have a tough time.
According to AccuWeather, the weather for the MICT vs PR Qualifier 1 match could be a bit tricky. Expect cloudy and humid weather with a 42% chance of rain in some areas. The temperature will hover around 22°C but with 89% humidity, it might feel a bit heavier.
Winds from the southwest at 19 km/h with gusts reaching 35 km/h could play a role in swing bowling. With 91% cloud cover, the conditions might favour the seamers early on, while batters will have to be cautious. Visibility remains 10 km, so no major concerns there. Fingers crossed the rain stays away for an uninterrupted game.
Toss : Paarl Royals skipper David Miller won the toss and chose to bowl with all the playing XI players excited and fit to go on the field. MI Cape Town skipper Rashid Khan batting first is also raring to go with all the players fit and excited to play the 1st Qualifier.
Delano Potgieter’s late blitz of 32 runs in 17 balls powers MICT TO 199 for 4 after top order heroics with the bat.
Opting to bat first, MI Cape Town put up an imposing 199/4 in their 20 overs, courtesy of significant contributions from multiple batters. Ryan Rickelton set the tone early with a brisk 44 off 27 balls, ensuring his team got off to a flying start. Rassie van der Dussen provided stability with 40 off 32 deliveries, while Dewald Brevis played an anchor role, remaining unbeaten on 44 off 30 balls.
The top order of MICT who have been in terrific form this entire tournament once again, gave the team a terrific start with an 87-run opening stand between, top-scorer of the tournament, Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton. They began their onslaught against the young Kwena Maphaka who began his new ball spell with five-wides and it only got worse from there for the youngster. He was hammered for 15 in his second over while Bjorn Fortuin faced the treatment an over later with three sixes off him.

Just after the PowerPlay, Mujeeb dropped a sitter off Rickelton to make matters worse for the bowling side. It was Dayyaan Galiem who pulled one back for the Royals deceiving van der Dussen with a slower ball. It was a successful passage of play for the Royals as Dunith Wellalage picked up two wickets in the next over including the set Rickelton.
George Linde in his brief cameo of 26 powered three sixes against the favorable match-up of the left-arm spinners before he fell to Fortuin. Dewald Brevis then laid siege to Galiem with two sixes as MICT switched gears.

The game-changer, however, was Delano Potgieter, who walked in with MI Cape Town needing an explosive finish. Delano Potgieter unbeaten 32 off 17 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and a six, propelled the total close to the 200-run mark. George Linde’s cameo of 26 off 14 balls added further impetus, giving the team a formidable score to defend.
With the game in the balance after 18 overs, Galiem bowled his second waist-high no-ball rendering him out of the attack. Mitchell Owen who was the hero with the bat for the Hobart Hurricanes 10 days ago in the Big Bash final, couldn’t do it with the ball for the Royals.
Delano Potgieter and Brevis smashed 21 runs off the five balls he bowled to complete the over in a mammoth 27-run over before they laid the finishing touches with a 17-run over off Maphaka to end on 199 for 4. MICT had scored 44 runs off the last two overs, firmly putting them in the ascendency.
Paarl Royals’ bowlers had a tough outing, with only Dunith Wellalage (2/23) managing to contain the flow of runs effectively. The rest of the bowling attack, including Kwena Maphaka (0/49) and Bjorn Fortuin (1/44), struggled against MI Cape Town’s aggressive batting approach.
MICT bowler Rashid Khan creates history as collective effort with the ball propels MI Cape Town into SA20 Final by 39 runs win over Paarl Royals
Chasing 200 to book a spot in the final, Paarl Royals had an electrifying start, with Lhuan-dre Pretorius smashing 15 off just six deliveries. However, Kagiso Rabada struck early, dismissing Pretorius, and Trent Boult followed up by removing Mitchell Owen shortly after.
Unlike MICT, the Royals got off to a blistering start with 21 runs scored in the very first over against Trent Boult. But pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada had Lhuan-dre Pretorius nick behind to Rickelton, and Boult came back in his next over to prize Owen. Bosch picked up Rubin Hermann as the Royals had lost three in the PowerPlay.
The early wickets pegged Paarl back, with Rubin Hermann and Dayyaan Galiem failing to provide stability. Dunith Wellalage and David Miller briefly resurrected the innings, but the required run rate kept climbing. Miller, leading from the front, fought valiantly with an attacking 45 off 26 balls, smashing four boundaries and three sixes. Dinesh Karthik contributed 31 off 28 balls, but his inability to accelerate at the right moment left the Royals in deep trouble.

It was a big slump for the Royals as they lost wickets consistently during their innings. Only David Miller (45) and Dinesh Karthik (31) got to any score of note for the chasing side. Both fell at a crucial juncture once they were set as victory loomed larger for MICT. Rashid Khan, the captain of the unstoppable MICT this year, picked up his 632nd T20 wicket when he castled Wellalage, a major milestone for the 26-year-old from Nangarhar. The Royals were bowled out for 160, as all the bowlers of the MICT were amongst the wickets.

Rashid Khan not only played a crucial role in MI Cape Town’s win but also reached a historic landmark in T20 cricket. With his two wickets in the match, he surpassed Dwayne Bravo’s tally of 631 wickets, becoming the highest wicket-taker in T20 history with 632 scalps.
Rashid Khan, showing his class with both the ball and as captain, struck twice to dismiss Wellalage and Karthik, further denting Paarl Royals’ hopes. Rabada (2/18), Boult (2/38), and Corbin Bosch (2/34) were relentless, ensuring regular breakthroughs. Eventually, Paarl Royals were bowled out for 160 in 19.4 overs, falling 39 runs short of the target.
Since the departure of Joe Root, the Royals have lost all their games – three on the bounce now – but they will get another chance in Qualifier 2. They will face the winner of the Eliminator between the Joburg Super Kings and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Rashid Khan the winning MICT skipper said : Great feeling. First couple of years we finished at the bottom. I think the way we played in the group stage was brilliant. Everyone has been taking on the pressure and trying to perform. Under pressure, everyone has been responding. You need a good start in this short format.
Rickelton and Rassie give us a good platform. They have been outstanding. This year things have been going perfectly. We have been doing a great job. It is tough to come back in this format. The first over went for 21. But KG showed all his experience. It is a great achievement. Proud feeling to have topped the table.
David Miller the losing PR skipper said : We started on the back foot. Ricks and Rassie batted well. We did well after the powerplay. We lost it at the back end with wides and a couple of no-balls. Never nice to have a bowler coming off. One of those nights where the wheels came off at the back-end.
Three games in a row have been losses but takes one game to make a turn around. Tonight we failed to get off to a good start. That happens while chasing 200. These games do happen in T20s. The luck of the dice didn’t go our way. To be honest, spinning in, DK and I decided that I will face the six balls against Linde. Didn’t work out.
Delano Potgieter Player of the Match for his rapid 32 of 17 balls said : It is extremely tough. Not the easiest job in the world. But I am happy. The way they have been batting at the top. They have been able to give us time to whack it at the end. I like bowling. We have an extremely good bowling lineup. Lovely feeling. We have one more game to go.
MI Cape Town cruised to victory with a comfortable win against Paarl Royals by 39 runs in Gqeberha, thereby sealing berth in the SA20 final which will be played on Saturday (February 8) at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Rashid Khan also created history, now sitting alone at the top of the list of the most number of T20 wickets by a single bowler – 632 surpassing Dwayne Bravo.
The wooden-spooners off the last two editions have become the first team to qualify for the finale in the third edition of the SA20. MICT continue to live the fairytale. On a deck where defending totals has been the norm, Miller decided to bowl first. MICT managed to get to 199 on the back of many contributions.
The bowlers then came to the party and they struck at regular intervals to ensure Paarl never really threatened them. Miller tried but his lone hand was never enough. DK consumed balls but failed to come up with a good bargain for his team. They missed Root for sure and Pretorius despite hitting his first three balls for boundaries fell to Rabada and the wickets just kept falling post that.
We are done with qualifier 1. MICT continue their dream run. They have been seamless and ruthless. They just look unstoppable. MICT seem to have every base covered and they would be just hoping that the law of averages don’t catch up with their players because it seems there can’t be another way out to deny them this edition’s Trophy. Paarl have another chance. They will have to wait for that. First SEC will take on JSK. The winner of that game will play the Royals. The Paarl unit looked a little thin on batting and they would want to have a look at that.
Despite the loss, Paarl Royals still have a chance to make it to the final. They will now await the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) and Joburg Super Kings (JSK). If they can regroup and address their shortcomings, they still stand a strong chance to challenge for the title.
MI Cape Town’s journey in SA20 2025 has been nothing short of spectacular. After finishing at the bottom in the last two editions, they have turned things around with a near-perfect campaign. Their batting depth, a lethal bowling attack, and the leadership of Rashid Khan make them the team to beat. However, as the tournament reaches its climax, they will be wary of the unpredictability of T20 cricket.
With the final approaching, cricket fans can expect an intense battle as MI Cape Town await their challenger. Will they complete their fairytale run and lift the trophy, or will they face a last-minute upset. Only time will tell.