The MI Cape Town, led by Rashid Khan defeated the Paarl Royals to reach the final of the SA20 2025. The side played some dominant cricket throughout the tournament and topped the points table to make it to the knockouts.
In the Qualifier 1 against the Paarl Royals, they came up with another dominant performance. The Royals won the toss and opted to bat first at S. George's Park in Gqeberha. Openers Van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton provided an 87-run stand to give the team a good start.
The good start was cashed in by the middle-order batters with Dewald Brevis scoring an unbeaten 44 off 30 balls with four sixes and scoring at a strike rate of nearly 150. All the Royals bowlers proved to be expensive. Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage picked two for 23. Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowled a spell of none for 25 in four overs and tried to control the scoring rate.
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MI Cape Town Make SA20 2025 Final
The MI Cape Town side reached 199/4 in their 20 overs despite the squeeze in the middle overs. The Royals in their chase could only reach as far as 160 and were bowled out. They lost wickets at regular intervals and their top-order crumbled under pressure. Skipper David Miller top-scored with 45 from 26 balls. Dinesh Karthik, the former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman scored 31 off 28 balls but the effort from the duo was not enough to take them to victory.
MI pacers Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada and Corbin Bosch took two wickets each to dent the Royals run chase. Skipper Rashid Khan took two for 33 and is now the top wicket-taker in T20Is. He went past Dwayne Bravo to get to 633 wickets in 461 T20 matches. Bravo, on the other hand, took 631 wickets in 582 matches.
"Great feeling. First couple of years we finished at the bottom. I think the way we played in the group stage was brilliant. Everyone has been taking on the pressure and trying to perform. Under pressure, everyone has been responding. This year things have been going perfectly. We have been doing a great job. It is tough to come back in this format. It is a great achievement. Proud feeling to have topped the table" said Rashid after the match.
The Cape Town side has reached the final while the Royals will get another chance in Qualifier 2 on February 6. The winner between the Joburg Super Kings and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape who face off in the Eliminator on Wednesday will play the Royals on Thursday. The SA202025 final will be played on Saturday, February 8.
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