Following a washed-out season opener, the SA20 has gotten off to a robust start with a high-scoring blockbuster between Durban’s Super Giants and MI Cape Town at Kingsmead.
The hosts won the toss, and chose to bowl first. However, it seemed like that decision backfired early on, with Ryan Rickelton taking command of the Powerplay. The Proteas left-hander impressed against pace and spin, racing to a tremendous half-century.
Rassie van der Dussen began slowly, but holed out in the deep when he was finding his range. Cameos from Connor Esterhiuzen and England international Liam Livingstone kept the momentum going in the middle overs.
Rickelton eventually fell for 87, but the visitors were set for an imposing total. Kieron Pollard clubbed a 14-ball 31 to drive MICT above the 200 threshold.
It was a largely forgettable outing for the DSG bowlers, but Keemo Paul stood out with his 2-31 in 4 overs.
DSG had to get rolling at just above 10 an over right from the get-go, but MICT drew first blood when Kagiso Rabada got the big wicket of Quinton de Kock.
Wiaan Mulder and Keemo Paul were shifted up the order, but both fell in quick succession. Soon enough, the rebuilding job was left for another two Proteas batters – a relatively new face in Breetzke, and an experienced big hitter in Klaasen.
Breetzke remained aggressive, but Sam Curran had the last laugh with an excellent slower delivery. However, Klaasen punished all the MICT bowlers at will.
Even when the experienced WI left-hander Nicholas Pooran went cheaply, there was no deterrent for Klaasen, who hit another three sixes in the next two overs.
He may have been dismissed in the 16th over, but the damage had already been dealt. After 16.3 overs, DSG were 11 runs ahead of the DLS par score. The rain didn’t stop, bringing about the close of the 2nd SA20 game.
DSG have emerged victorious in a match where they were nearly losing their way, but a masterclass from an in-form Klaasen singlehandedly shifted the balance thereafter.
MICT 207/5 in 20 overs (Rickelton 87 – Paul 4-0-31-2)
DSG 177/6 in 16.3 overs (Klaasen 85, Breetzke 39 – Rabada 3-0-23-2)
