Record-breaking Rickelton powers MI Cape Town to victory over JSK

Ryan Rickelton became the first batter to score multiple Betway SA20 centuries as the defending champions reignited their Betway SA20 campaign with a resounding 36-run victory over Joburg Super Kings in the ‘El Clasico’ at the Wanderers.

Rickelton matched his career-best with an unbeaten 113 (60 balls, 8x4, 9x6) to set up MI Cape Town’s mammoth 234/3 before George Linde (2/30) and Kagiso Rabada (2/34) restricted Super Kings to 198/5.

Fellow opener Rassie van der Dussen also played his part, striking 65 (32 balls, 4x4, 6x6) that set up MI Cape Town’s innings. He and Rickelton rekindled memories of their record 200-run opening stand at the Bullring two seasons ago with another power-packed 129-run partnership in just 10.2 overs.

MI Cape Town’s power-hitters Nicholas Pooran and Jason Smith failed to capitalise on the platform but Rickelton was not going to let the early work go to waste as he blasted Nandre Burger for consecutive boundaries and a towering six to bring up a terrific century off just 55 balls.

He found an able partner in Afghanistan international Karim Janat, who blasted an 11-ball 20 not out at the death.

JSK’s run-chase was hampered after their captain Faf du Plessis could not bat. As a result, Englishman Michael Pepper was promoted to open the innings but his Betway SA20 debut innings did not last long after Rabada successfully reviewed a caught behind at the start of the third over.

The four Player of the Match candidates were Rabada, Rickelton, Van der Dussen and James Vince with the centurion winning 83.2% of the fan vote.

Rabada and Linde wrecked JSK’s top order with Matthew de Villiers and Wiaan Mulder falling in the PowerPlay.

It was not until Vince was joined by rising star Dian Forrester did JSK begin to eat into the target with a 66-run fourth-wicket partnership.

But after Vince’s dismissal for 77 (43 balls, 10x4, 3x6), it was left to young Forrester to shoulder the responsibility on his own.

The left-hander was ultimately not able to take his team over the line but the 25-year-old will no doubt take plenty of confidence from his 42-ball 80 not out (4x4, 5x6) into JSK’s remaining matches.

Earlier on Saturday, Pretoria Capitals rallied on the back of some outstanding bowling to defend their below par total to pull off a Betway SA20 heist against Paarl Royals at a steaming Boland Park.

Capitals' 138/9 looked about 20 runs short on Saturday afternoon where temperatures hovered close to 40°C but Lungi Ngidi (1/35), Lizaad Williams (1/21), Gideon Peters (1/11) and Keshav Maharaj (2/14) all contributed with the ball to restrict the Royals to 117/6 to earn a 21-run victory.

On a sluggish surface that assisted both bowling units throughout, the contest was ultimately decided by the battle of the two big-hitting southpaws Sherfane Rutherford and David Miller.

Rutherford has been excellent throughout the competition for Capitals and once again took the responsibility upon his shoulders to push his team up to a competitive total.

With only Shai Hope contributing 22 off 21 balls upfront, Rutherford was content to bide his time initially before exploding at the death with two sixes off Hardus Viljoen’s last over to finish unbeaten on 42 off 35 balls (3x4, 3x6).

Royals’ chase was pegged back immediately when Ngidi picked up Lhuan-dre Pretorius with the second ball of the innings. This left the door ajar for Capitals to chip away before Rubin Hermann tried to consolidate the home team’s chase by forming partnerships with Asa Tribe and Miller.

But Hermann’s dismissal for 35 off 37 balls left the Royals at 67/4 and still needing 72 off 47 balls.

The four Player of the Match candidates were Hermann, Dan Lawrence, Sikandar Raza and Rutherford with the West Indian winning 60.6% of the fan vote.

The onus was now on Miller to lead from the front and match Rutherford’s earlier big-hitting heroics and he looked to be turning the game in the Royals’ favour with successive sixes of Ngidi in the 16th over.

Although he smashed one further maximum off Williams, the run-rate was still escalating due to his partner Delano Potgieter’s timing deserting him at this crucial juncture as the Royals were left needing a virtually impossible 30 runs off the final over.

Miller (45, 36b, 4x6) perished in the process, falling off Williams’ first ball and with it went any chance of an improbable Royals victory.

The Capitals are now joined with the Royals on 15 points but the Centurion side are placed higher in third position due to their superior 0.016 Net Run-Rate. The Royals have played one game less but have a NRR of -1.075.