Match Center

Well, the selfies and autographs have begun, but that's all we have from Super Saturday. It was the day of the openers. First, Joe Root's 92 helped Paarl Royals blow away Pretoria Capitals in Centurion and in the night game, it was Ryan Rickelton's turn. Sunday, 19th January, 2025, sees Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Durban's Super Giants clash in Gqeberha. The first ball is scheduled to begin at 7 pm IST (1330 GMT), but our buildup will begin much earlier. In the meanwhile, you can continue to catch action from the Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup, the first Test between Pakistan and West Indies, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Big Bash League, the International League T20, the SA20 and also, a new series kicking off - West Indies Women vs Bangladesh Women. Enjoy the cricket. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Most of the crowd is still there, wanting to catch each and every word of what their players say, wanting some selfies. Joburg Super Kings' next game comes quickly, as they travel to Paarl to meet Paarl Royals on Monday, 20th January, 2025, while MI Cape Town travel to Durban next to take on Durban's Super Giants on Tuesday, 21st January, 2025.

The victorious captain of MI Cape Town, RASHID KHAN, says it was one of the best innings so far from Ryan Rickelton and it was overall a good night for them as a team. Thanks the crowd for supporting in big numbers and says it is beautiful to play in front of such a lively crowd, and is delighted to put on a dominating performance. Says that the combination in the team is good and that makes his job as a skipper a lot easier. Mentions it is still a long way to go and they just need to keep up with the momentum. Also opines that the bonus points help a lot as well. Appreciates Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen and says once the team got the match in the grasp, MI Cape Town went for the bonus point.

The captain of Joburg Super Kings, FAF DU PLESSIS, honestly says that this was one of those performances that need to be put in the bin. Calls it a frustrating night with not much going to plan, but also adds that sometimes, such games are necessary to keep the team on its toes. Feels that given the way his team started with the bat, they were 10-15 runs short. But given the way the pitch played in the night, with the ball skidding on, he feels that chasing would have been a better option. Details that in the first innings, the ball was gripping a touch as well. On the mounting injuries for South African quicks, du Plessis calls it a part and parcel of the game and adds that teams must figure out a way to move forward.

RYAN RICKELTON, from MI Cape Town, HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for a scintillating 89 (39). Says that he was nervous coming into this game due to that hamstring injury. Admits that after that double century in the New Year's Test, the expectations have grown up from him. Smiles and says that he loves hitting sixes. Thanks the crowd for its incredible support despite the team not doing well in the last 2 seasons.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, Faf du Plessis chose to bat on what looked like a very dry surface and riding on a rollercoaster, his team posted a commanding 172/5. The skipper led from the front, with a fine 61, with good support from Devon Conway while Jonny Bairstow batted well at the end, recovering his side from a middle-over collapse. For MI Cape Town, Rashid Khan and Reeza Hendricks applied the brakes on Joburg. With this win, MI Cape Town have not just rocketed to the top with 14 points, but created a good gap between themselves and second-placed Paarl Royals who are at 12 points. Understandably, Joburg Super Kings drop down to third, with 10 points. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

A bit of a shock for Faf du Plessis and Stephen Fleming. They banked heavily on Imran Tahir, Matheesha Pathirana and Tabraiz Shamsi for the wickets. Only Tahir seemed threatening, but he was wicketless. None of the other bowlers could create any sort of impression once the MI batters got going. Faf might put it down to the pitch getting better under lights but there were just too many half volleys. Don't remember too many bouncers or shoulder-high short balls.

Who's going to stop Ryan Rickelton in 2025? Pakistan tried it in the New Year's Test. Failed. Had a blip against the Paarl Royals in the previous game. And tonight, fell just 11 short of a ton, amassing 89 from just 39 balls, with 8 fours and 6 sixes. It is not like he timed the ball sweetly from the word go. Took his chances, miscued a couple, but luck was on his side. As they say, fortune favours the brave. And Rickelton chose to be brave. Good support from Reeza Hendricks as well, not letting the run rate go down, especially after van der Dussen got out.

Not quite sure whether the pitch got a bit better to play under the lights. The ball seemed hold up a bit initially, but then, once the openers teed off, they just kept going on and on. Rassie van der Dussen set the tone early, scoring a quickfire 39 in an opening stand of 70, after being dropped on 1 by Donovan Ferreira. Joburg Super Kings were put to the sword after a frugal couple of overs and then, when Rassie was dismissed, Rickelton came into his own. He was on 30 (16) when Rassie was dismissed. Scored 59 (23) himself of the next 92 runs, literally giving JSK no chance.

Rampaging Ryan Rickelton has blown off Joburg Super Kings in scenic Cape Town. The home crowd is on its feet, thrilled to get its money's worth. Joburg Super Kings will find it difficult to digest this defeat. More so, the manner of the loss.

There it is! MI CAPE TOWN WIN BY 7 WICKETS AND 25 BALLS TO SPARE, romping home with a bonus point to boot! A low full toss, outside off, Reeza Hendricks reaches out and pushes out towards mid off for the final single.

Full, on middle, Delano Potgieter pushes it down to long on to level the scores with a single.

Boos around the ground as Imran Tahir celebrated that wicket! But he does not care. Celebration is celebration. And ironically, with closure to this game at the doorstep, the FINAL STRATEGIC BREAK is taken. Nothing much left in this game, really, except that the blitz from Rickelton has saved 30 minutes of everyone's time. We were expecting a thriller, a tough run chase, but Rickelton has blown off the Super Kings in Cape Town. Delano Potgieter comes in as the latest entrant in search of that bonus point.

OUT! IN THE AIR AGAIN...AND TAKEN THIS TIME! Slower one, dug in short on top of off, Dewald Brevis stands tall to pull it across and get behind deep mid-wicket but the ball gets a bit too heavy on the right-hander. Dewald does go through the shot and ends up slicing it up in the air more of the top edge. The spoons in the night sky and goes behind to short fine. Imran Tahir, 45-years-young, settles under it and takes this steepler on his haunches. A consolation wicket for Wiese and JSK. Dewald Brevis departs on 8 (3), MI Cape Town need just a couple of runs to win.

OUT! IN THE AIR AGAIN...AND TAKEN THIS TIME! Slower one, dug in short on top of off, Dewald Brevis stands tall to pull it across and get behind deep mid-wicket but the ball gets a bit too heavy on the right-hander. Dewald does go through the shot and ends up slicing it up in the air more of the top edge. The spoons in the night sky and goes behind to short fine. Imran Tahir, 45-years-young, settles under it and takes this steepler on his haunches. A consolation wicket for Wiese and JSK. Dewald Brevis departs on 8 (3), MI Cape Town need just a couple of runs to win.

IN THE AIR...DROPPED! Just sums up the night for Joburg Super Kings! Lands it full and across off, Dewald Brevis looks to take on and lofts it over cover. Doesn't quite time it well as the bat twists in his hands. It goes only as far as deep cover and dips ahead of the fielder. Devon Conway misjudges at first but then dives low to his front to scoop the ball, but it goes in and out of his hands. Two taken.

A low full toss, dipping on the pads, Reeza Hendricks bends low and clips it to deep square leg for a single.