Monday’s game between MI Cape Town and the Paarl Royals was another successful affair, with multiple capped Proteas stepping up once more.
It all began with an economical spell from left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, who went at a run-a-ball in his 4-over allotment.
But soon enough, the seasoned MICT batters, Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks, amassed a fantastic 79-run stand for the second wicket. Hendricks batted at No 3 this time around and scored a brisk 59 from 37 (8 fours and 1 six). Following two rather forgettable outings, the classy right-hander strung together a well-paced knock to set the platform for a swift finish.
It was a largely modest day for the Royals bowling unit, with three of the five bowlers going at or above 10 an over. However, Dayyaan Galiem, the most recent Proteas newcomer, dazzled with 3-24 in his 4 overs. The wicket of the dangerous Dewald Brevis was the cherry on top for the Titans all-rounder.
But a brief cameo from the latest star of the show, Delano Potgieter, propelled the hosts to a respectable 172/7 at halftime.
During the chase, Lhuan-dre Pretorius got off to another breathtaking start, but it was the world-class Kagiso Rabada who stole the limelight for the nth time. The superstar pacer took two wickets in two overs, but more importantly, didn’t concede even one run off his bowling. The early momentum quickly vanished as a result, but there was more to enjoy for MICT.
George Linde, the left-arm spinning allrounder, celebrated his Proteas return with stupendous returns of 4-0-15-3. He was the primary reason for the Royals’ middle-order collapse, especially the key cheap wickets of Mitchell van Buuren and the big-hitting David Miller. He complemented skipper Rashid Khan to perfection, as both successfully spun a web and skittled out 5 wickets between them. And rather fittingly, Linde closed out his spell with his 3rd wicket.
In the end, it was a very straightforward win for MICT, and it was a proper team effort to boot. Several players have showcased their skill set en route to a convincing second victory as well as a massive NRR boost.
