In a match repeatedly interrupted by unseasonal rain, MI Cape Town finally broke their duck in the SA20 league with a nail-biting four-wicket victory over the Joburg Super Kings at Newlands on Tuesday. The home side chased down a revised target of 128 in a frantic 12-over contest, reaching 128 for 6 with four balls to spare, much to the delight of the rain-weary Cape Town crowd.
Pooran's Pyrotechnics Light Up Newlands
The chase was ignited by a breathtaking cameo from West Indies powerhouse Nicholas Pooran. In a display of pure power-hitting, Pooran smashed five enormous sixes in a whirlwind innings of 33 runs. The highlight was a monstrous strike off Richard Gleeson that sailed onto the top tier of the Members’ Stand, a shot that instantly became a contender for the tournament's biggest hit. His dismissal brought a twist, but the momentum was firmly with the hosts.
Van der Dussen's Composure and Smith's Final Flourish
While Pooran provided the fireworks, Rassie van der Dussen played the crucial anchor role. His composed 35 runs off 24 balls, which included three sixes, steadied the innings after early wickets. The finishing touches were applied in dramatic fashion by Jason Smith, whose boundary-laden 22 came from just six deliveries. His explosive hitting took MI Cape Town to the brink of victory, allowing Karim Janat to calmly hit the winning runs.
Du Plessis' Blitz and Rain's Cruel Interruption
Earlier, after a one-hour rain delay at the start, Joburg Super Kings were put in to bat. Skipper Faf du Plessis was in devastating form, racing to 44 off just 21 balls. He hammered Kagiso Rabada for four consecutive boundaries and looked set for a huge score. JSK had raced to 69/2 before another, more significant, rain interruption halted play for 75 minutes and reduced the match to 12 overs per side.
The stoppage proved catastrophic for the visitors' momentum. Du Plessis fell almost immediately after the restart, and the MI Cape Town bowlers seized control. Corbin Bosch was the pick of the bowlers with excellent figures of 3 for 24, while star leg-spinner Rashid Khan chipped in with 2 for 23. Only Matthew de Villiers (21 off 15) offered late resistance as JSK finished their 12 overs on 123 for 7, a total that ultimately fell just short.
This much-needed win opens MI Cape Town's account in the competition, providing a massive boost to their campaign after initial struggles. The victory was built on a collective effort—a strong bowling fightback after the rain, followed by a calculated and powerful chase under pressure.
Brief Scores:
Joburg Super Kings: 123/7 in 12 overs (Faf du Plessis 44; Corbin Bosch 3/24, Rashid Khan 2/23).
MI Cape Town: 128/6 in 11.2 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 35, Nicholas Pooran 33, Jason Smith 22; Nandre Burger 2/23).
Result: MI Cape Town won by 4 wickets (DLS method).
