The defending champions’ unbeaten streak has been followed up with two crushing losses, with MI Cape Town making light work of them today.

It was a sluggish start for the visitors, as new recruit Tony de Zorzi and Englishman Tom Abell both fell cheaply during the Powerplay.

David Bedingham and Aiden Markram tried to rebuild, but the introduction of the spin trio completely deflated the innings during the middle overs. At no point were SEC going at a run a ball or better.

Bedingham top-scored with 45 from 45, and following his dismissal, Andile Simelane scrapped away at the back end to scrounge up a few handy runs to take his side over 100.

Corbin Bosch was the pick of the bowlers with 4/19, and got fantastic support from Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult.

Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton got off to another blistering start, and the no-nonsense approach gave them a bonus-point win. 108 was successfully chased down in 11 overs, and Rickelton notched up another half-century in the process.

In light of some of the injury scares, some of the others who are headed to the Champions Trophy are in some serious form.