Dewald Brevis played a starring role with an unbeaten 70 to guide MI Cape Town to an eight wicket victory against Paarl Royals in the Betway SA20 opening match at Six Gun Grill Newlands on Tuesday evening.
Brevis and opener Ryan Rickelton produced an incredible 90-run opening stand as they chased down the necessary 142 runs at a sold-out Newlands.
Before being dismissed by West Indies left-arm seamer Ramon Simmonds, Rickelton managed to score a magnificent 42 off 33 balls, with five fours and one six.
England all-rounder Sam Curran was dismissed by Codi Yusuf and caught in the deep for 20 runs as MI Cape Town lost one more wicket.
Brevis was named man of the match following his stunning innings of an unbeaten 70 runs off 41 balls, hitting four fours and five sixes.
With 27 balls remaining, MI Cape Town easily won the competition thanks to Brevi’s efforts at the crease.
Earlier in the day, the Paarl Royals posted a respectable 142 run for seven wickets after opener Jos Buttler smashed 51 runs off 42 balls.
Wihan Lubbe was the first to be removed after his top-edged was caught by a running George Linde for the first wicket of the tournament as Jofra Archer struck in his first over in his return to action in nearly 18 months.
Rashid Khan took an outstanding running catch from mid-on to give Duan Jansen his second wicket in his first over after removing Jason Roy as he left the game with 13 of 14 balls.
Soon after, MI Cape Town’s Olly Stone entered the attack and bowled Dane Vilas for six with his first ball.
Before David Miller was bowled by Stone, Buttler and Miller had a 48-run stand. Buttler left after hitting 51 from 43 balls, which included six fours and one six.
David Miller was taken out for 42 off 31 balls by Archer, who also took out Ferisco Adams for a golden duck.
The Royals posted 142/7 in their 20 overs after Eoin Morgan’s useful 19-run innings, but he was run out off the last ball of the innings.
The Cape Town attack was led by Archer, who finished with three for 27 in four overs.
Photo by Sportzpics/SA20/BackpagePix
