MI Cape Town vs Eastern Cape, 1st Match at Gqeberha, SA20, Jan 09 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

9:03pm That will be all from us for tonight. We will be back with more SA20 action tomorrow as the Durban's Super Giants open their campaign against the Pretoria Capitals. Until then, this is goodbye on behalf of Ranjith and myself. Take care, everyone!

Delano Potgieter, Player of the Match: (On how he is feeling) I don't know what to say. It was lovely. I guess I just take it as it comes (smiles). This is the first time I bowled for MICT and glad it paid off. (On his success) I think I just tried to keep it simple. Did not bowl one slower ball, tried to hit the top of the stumps. It was working tonight and extremely happy. (On his batting) Only came in to bat in the 18th over and tried to do all I could (to get us to a higher total).

Rashid Khan, MI Cape Town captain: Brilliant start for us, that is the kind of start you want in such competitions. We had a couple of tough years and then the start…the way Brevis batted and then the way we finished, it was special. He is someone who can change the momentum at any time. He has that skill and ability. He has delivered in the past, it was a brilliant innings under pressure. The way he hit the ball, it was amazing to see. In T20, you always need a good start, and someone like him (Boult), who had been doing it for a long time, that experience helps. That gave us a strong base and momentum. (On Potgieter) Special bowler, special guy. He has not bowled much in T20s in the last couple of years and he delivered (tonight). So happy for him and all about the way he has adjusted on this wicket.

Aiden Markram, Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain: Tough day. There were nice moments, couple of overs here and there allowed them to get to 170. Just not at the races with the bat. Will have to have some good conversations. Short turnaround and start afresh (in our next game). (On their powerplay bowling) Pleasant to see that. We held lengths really well, did not need to do anything fancy or creative. Credit to the boys who bowled (in the powerplay) and it is a positive we will take forward. (On the decision to bring back Jansen back to dismiss Brevis) You take those gambles, sometimes you get it right, sometimes you don't. Pretty much on Marco. Good to get him out, but he played really well. It was always going to be a score you can defend but also a score you can chase if you bat well.

8:41pm As convincing and one-sided a victory as you could get. And it was a turnaround from how these sides had fared in the two seasons prior to tonight. MICT were the side playing like champions, making the most of every opportunity that came their way, with SEC stuttering and stumbling at every turn.

Three wickets in the powerplay pegged them back before Potgieter turned in the display that he would have always dreamt of. Tonight was the first time he bowled in the SA20, and he picked up five wickets like it was just another day at the office, also registering the second-best bowling figures in SA20 history. Boult bagged two, with Omarzai and Linde picking up a wicket apiece. And to top it all off, there was an incredible run-out, effected by their skipper Rashid.

Gleeson is the last batter in. Off-strike for now

Jansen v Rashid

Rashid returns

Marius Roodt: "This is Potgieter's 12th SA20 game and the first time he's bowled in the comp" -- He has done rather okay too!

Here's Shubham with another stat nugget: Earlier, Trent Boult became the first MICT bowler to bowl a double wicket maiden over. Now, Delano Potgieter has become the first ever MICT bowler to pick up three wickets in an over

Harmer is the latest to try his luck with the bat. Potgieter on the verge of a five-for