All eyes on Newlands as MI Cape Town, Sunrisers clash

Newlands is set to be abuzz with excitement when MI Cape Town aim to keep their play-off hopes alive in their all-important Betway SA20 clash against Sunrisers Eastern Cape on Friday evening.

There is no hotter ticket in the Mother City with the grand old ground at the foot of Table Mountain having been sold out for weeks with the hospitality suites also overflowing with Cape Town’s social elite and sport stars.

MI Cape Town will look to harness the roaring support of their home crowd as the defending champions seek a bonus point victory to ensure they head to St George’s Park on Sunday for the return match against Sunrisers with all still to play for.

They will need to do it without their captain Rashid Khan who has departed for international duty with Afghanistan.

But MI Cape Town have brought in a familiar face in West Indies T20 legend Kieron Pollard in a bid to galvanise the team’s late push.

Pollard is well-acquainted with the vibrant Newlands atmosphere, having enjoyed a previous Betway SA20 stint at MI Cape Town in Season 2, when he smashed 187 runs at a strike rate of 188, and also picked up four wickets.

His inclusion brings a wealth of experience and firepower with Pollard just 101 runs shy of overtaking fellow West Indian Chris Gayle as the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 cricket - a milestone he could achieve during his stint in Cape Town.

Pollard will be hoping he calls correctly at the toss and gets to bat first against the Sunrisers, particularly with MI Cape Town having fallen short in four run-chases already this season.

Top-order batter Reeza Hendricks admits it has been the Achilles heel of the team’s campaign.

“It's obviously a concern if we're coming short on the chasing side of things,” Hendricks said. “Obviously, we have two games left, so something to look at.

“Still a lot to play for in these two games, so hopefully we can put it together.”

Sunrisers, meanwhile, have already qualified for the play-offs after their bonus-point victory over Joburg Super Kings at St George’s Park midweek but the two-time champions have no intention of easing up as they seek a top two finish on the standings to secure a place in Qualifier 1 at Kingsmead next Wednesday.

“Looking forward to the game. We still want to put our best foot forward,” said Sunrisers’ in-form allrounder Senuran Muthusamy.

“It's just about making sure that we're right up for it for the business end, finish the group stages really well and carry through some momentum to the play-offs.

“We'll take each game as it comes, the most important game is on Friday.”