Reeza Hendricks & Dewald Brevis. Pic Credits: X

SA20 2025 : Reeza Hendricks & Dewald Brevis Merciless Onslaught Hands MICT To 27 Runs Victory To Edge PC

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Explosive knocks from Reeza Hendricks and Dewald Brevis powered MI Cape Town to a 27 run win over Pretoria Capitals during the ongoing SA20 season at Centurion. A high-scoring entertainer at SuperSport Park spelled the end of the campaign for the Pretoria Capitals, as a couple of barnstorming 70’s from Reeza Hendricks and Dewald Brevis set up an insurmountable 222/3.

MI Cape Town registered another comprehensive win to bolster their position at the top of the points table and in turn knocked Pretoria Capitals out from the playoffs race. Alongside MICT, it was confirmed now that the Paarl Royals, Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape would be the three other teams in the playoffs. The Capitals would have been in with a chance still if they had managed to chase down MICT’s 223. But the target proved to be too tall despite a quick start and a fifty from Will Smeed.

Pitch Report and Toss

Pitch Report : The SuperSport Park in Centurion is known for its surface that favors batters, becoming even more conducive to scoring as the game unfolds. A high-scoring match is anticipated, presenting a significant challenge for bowlers trying to keep the runs in check. Fast bowlers need to capitalize on the new ball, utilizing bounce and variations to their advantage. On the other hand, spinners might find limited help, so it’s essential for bowlers to be adaptable if they want to make a mark in these conditions.

The temperature in Centurion is expected to be 34°C with partly cloudy skies. There’s a 25% chance of rain, and humidity levels are low at 27%. Overall, the conditions look good for play, and fans are looking forward to an uninterrupted game.

Toss : Pretoria Capitals skipper Kyle Verreynne won the toss and chose to field with one change in the playing XI as they went in with extra batter. Mumbai Indians Cape Town skipper Rashid Khan batting first made two changes in the playing XI with Kagiso Rabada and George Linde with Azmatullah Omarzai and Matthew Potts.

Reeza Hendricks 77 and Dewald Brevis 73 powers MICT to 222 for 3 in 20 overs

Being put in to bat, MICT  racked up the highest-total of the season on the back of a sensational, unbeaten 142-run stand off just 68 balls between Reeza Hendricks and Dewald Brevis. The duo amassed as many as 90 runs in the final six overs with Migael Pretorius copping the maximum punishment, conceding 69 in his four overs.

MI Cape Town raced out of the starting blocks with the in-form opening pair of Rassie van der Dussen (30 off 20 balls, with a four and three sixes) and Ryan Rickelton (22 off 13 balls, with four boundaries and a six) smashing 45 in just 4.4 overs.

MI Cape Town Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo
MI Cape Town Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo

The pacer had copped similar punishment in the PowerPlay as well before the Dewald Brevis- Reeza Hendricks show. The openers, Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton picked him for 15 in his first over to set up the foundation for the assault to follow. It proved to be too much for the Capitals to overcome.

MI Cape Town are now 2nd on the log, and today, there were useful contributions from everyone who had a chance to bat. Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen struck several boundaries in the Powerplay and put on 45 runs together. That would set the tone for Reeza Hendricks to shift through the gears and pile up a well-paced 77 not out from 44 deliveries (4 fours, 5 sixes).

Pretoria Capitals Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo
Pretoria Capitals Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo

This was only the taster for the main course delivered by Reeza Hendricks and Dewald Brevis. The pair combined Reeza Hendricks’ elegance and timing with Dewald Brevis’ power to smash an unbroken 142-run partnership off just 68 balls for the fourth wicket. The pair matched each other almost run for run with Hendricks finishing on 77 not out off 44 balls (four boundaries and five sixes) and Brevis 73 not out off 32 balls (six fours and sixes each).

Pretoria’s spinners kept the momentum briefly in check, but the arrival of Dewald Brevis completely wrested control of the innings. Whether it was pace or spin, everyone went the journey, as the enterprising right-hander notched up a half-century in only 23 balls. 67 runs were scored in the final 4 overs, and PC had a tall peak to scale.

Will Smeed’s half century in vain as MICT wins the match by 27 runs and knocks of PC from the Qualifiers.

The Capitals had started the steep chase in earnest with Will Jacks providing the required cameo at the top. His 22-ball 39 set the tone upfront and a fifty from Smeed at No. 3 augured well for the chase. But it began to unravel as MICT struck regularly just past the halfway mark.

While Corbin Bosch got the the threatening Jacks to trigger a collapse, Rashid Khan (2-25) made his presence felt through the phase bagging both his wickets and pegging the Capitals back. With the asking-rate mounting, there was no real threat of a comeback from the Capitals even as there were some lusty blows from the lower-order. It was not enough to reverse the scoreboard pressure that had been set up by the MICT batters.

Pretoria Capitals Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPncricinfo
Pretoria Capitals Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPncricinfo

The home team’s chase started off with promise, but they were always playing catch-up with the steadily increasing asking rate. Ultimately, it was out of reach, but the young Keagan Lion-Cachet provided some late entertainment with his unbeaten 34 from 18. And the productive day for Dewald Brevis only got better, as he dismissed the danger man Will Smeed with his part-time legspin.

During the run-chase, there was a 72-run stand for the second wicket between Will Jacks (39 in 22 balls, with five fours and a six) and Will Smeed (52 in 36 balls, with nine fours). Fine cameos came from Ashton Turner (22 in eight balls, with a four and two sixes) and Keagan Lion-Cachet (34* in 18 balls, with two fours and two sixes), however, they still fell 27 runs short, restricted to 195/8. Rashid Khan (2/25) and Corbin Bosch (2/40) were top bowlers for MICT.

MI Cape Town Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo
MI Cape Town Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo

SA20 exploded with an avalanche of runs in the contest between Pretoria Capitals and MI Cape Town at a sold out Centurion on Friday night. Despite lightning and some thundershowers interrupting MI Cape Town’s innings, it did nothing to dim the excitement with the capacity crowd being treated to a batting exhibition of the highest order.

With the bowlers having dominated thus far in Season two, it was the turn of the batters to provide the excitement with a sum total of 417 runs pummelled on the night. These two sides were involved in a similar run-fest last season when they posted a record 462 runs at this very same ground. Unfortunately for the Centurion faithful, this was the last time they will see their team in action as the Capitals fell 27 runs short of MI Cape Town’s 222/3.

Capitals can now no longer qualify for the playoffs with Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings advancing to the Eliminator set to be played at Centurion Wednesday, February 5. They finish at second-last spot with two wins, five losses and two no results, giving them 14 points.

Presentations and Road Ahead

Rashid Khan the winning skipper of MICT said : So happy with the way we played. Especially having those couple of tough years and then coming back and the way everyone played was pleasing. We had couple of changes to have those players rested. It’s not like a miracle happened and we went to the top of the table. We’ve put in a lot of hard work. We just think about bringing our best game to the middle, be it a dead rubber or any other game.

Kyle Verreynne the losing skipper of PC said :  I don’t know how much we fell short there. 30 odd? I think if you look with the ball, you can find 15-16, and then with the bat as well. Batted nicely in parts but just didn’t find the rhythm. Key wickets at key times left us short. I think it was a good wicket and I think we had a chance – just didn’t pull it off. Our first five games came in 8-9 days or something like that.

If you don’t get off to a good start, it’s tough to bring that back. In saying that, I think we played nice cricket and lost games along the way which is disappointing. Been tough to get that rhythm and momentum. That’s why we are where we are. From personal point of view, there’s a lot of young guys, if we get a win it gives those guys confidence. We also owe it to the fans.

Dewald Brevis the Player of the Match for his thunderous 73* runs said : For us to have a few wins on the bounce and play beautiful cricket – I’m so excited for the boys. I’ve been working really hard. Have been able to go off and speak to the people that really care. Most important thing is to play with a smile. I’m playing the way I’ve played when I was a little boy and got onto the scene.

There was a time in my career when I listened quite a bit. You almost try too many things and try to be too clever for the game. But I’m just watching the ball now. It’s always a special place (Centurion). Support of the fans here was really great.

MI Cape Town’s explosive batting performance, led by Reeza Hendricks and Dewald Brevis, resulted in a 27-run victory over Pretoria Capitals, effectively eliminating them from the SA20 playoffs. The duo’s scintillating partnership yielded 142 runs off 68 balls, propelling Cape Town to a formidable total of 222 for 3.

In response, Pretoria Capitals managed 195 for 8, despite Will Smeed’s top score of 52 runs. Skipper Rashid Khan and Corbin Bosch were pivotal for Cape Town, each taking two wickets. The thrilling encounter, disrupted briefly by thundershowers, showcased a feast of runs totaling 417 for the night.

The Capitals’ hopes were dashed as they fell short, unable to qualify for the playoffs. Meanwhile, MI Cape Town, buoyed by their performance, are set for further clashes, including a Qualifier 1 match against Paarl Royals. The excitement in SA20 continues to build with each high-stakes encounter.

So the top four for the playoffs are confirmed, and the Capitals are not part of it. They needed to chase down a massive target of 223 to keep their hopes alive but have fallen short by 27 runs. It was a difficult ask for the Capitals batters after Dewald Brevis and Hendricks smashed it to all parts earlier in the evening.

They weren’t completely out of it because the pitch was good and the boundaries weren’t that long. However, it needed something special from their batting lineup. Jacks got off to a start, Smeed got a fifty, there were some fireworks lower down the order but they were always behind the rate that was needed.

Making things all the more difficult was Rashid Khan with the ball as he finished with superb figures of 2/25. He’s the last bowler you want to face in a chase like this. The two teams will meet again on Sunday at Newlands before MI Cape Town head to St George’s Park for their Qualifier 1 clash against Paarl Royals at St George’s Park on Tuesday, February 4.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights

 


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