In the 23rd match of the 2024 edition of SA20, MI Cape Town will be taking on Joburg Super Kings at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. The game is crucial for both sides as they are struggling with their form in the competition and their qualification for the second round of the tournament is hanging by a thread.
MI Cape Town struggled with their batting in two of their last three matches as they collapsed at scores of 103 and 121 runs, respectively. Meanwhile, the batters have also failed to put up a praise-worthy performance. For the team to move up the points table from fifth place, it will be important for players like Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Sam Curran, Kieron Pollard, and Kagiso Rabada to do well.
As far as Joburg Super Kings are concerned, they have only one win to their name and are languishing at the bottom of the points table. Both the batters and bowlers have underperformed in the tournament so far. For the franchise to bring a change in their fortunes, players including the likes of skipper Faf du Plessis, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, and Gerald Coetzee will have to step up.
Notably, this will be the second time that the two sides will clash against each other in the 2024 edition. Their first battle saw MICT scoring a win by a massive 98 runs after smacking 243 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
What has happened so far?
Joburg Super Kings kick-started their campaign in SA20 with an abandoned game against Sunrisers Eastern Cape and followed it up with three losses against MI Cape Town, Durban Super Giants, and Paarl Royals, respectively.
The Super Kings finally shined in their fourth game against Pretoria Capitals, only to lose their next game against Paarl Royals again. Their most recent game against the Capitals was washed out due to rain. Coming to MI Cape Town, they also had to start the tournament with a defeat against the Super Giants.
The team won two of its next three matches but has witnessed a slump in the last three games with losses against Paarl Royals, Durban Super Giants, and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Head to Head Record
Joburg Super Kings and MI Cape Town have played a total of three games so far against each other in South Africa’s domestic T20 Championship. MICT has emerged as victorious in the head-to-head record with two wins, while the Super Kings have recorded only one victory. The last game between the two teams saw MI winning by a massive 98 runs.
Key Player
Faf du Plessis (Joburg Super Kings): Going into the tournament, Joburg Super Kings had high expectations from their skipper Faf du Plessis. The franchise hoped for the opening batter to continue his sensational form in the T20 franchise cricket and lead the team’s batting unit. However, that has not been the case so far in the tournament.
Du Plessis has majorly struggled with the bat in the tournament and the Super Kings’ most recent match against the Capitals was no different as he scored only 25 runs off 12 balls before the game was washed out. However, Faf still holds the key to the team’s win and his form in the Monday match can heavily decide the team’s winning chances.
Faf du Plessis is struggling with the bat in the tournament
Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town): The wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton is likely to be the X-factor for MI Cape Town when they cross swords with Joburg Super Kings on Monday. The 27-year-old has been sensational in the tournament with the bat as he has played a defining knock in almost all seven games so far.
Ryan is currently at the top of the run-scoring table with a total of 382 runs to his name in seven matches at an average of over 63.67.
Predicted XIs
Joburg Super Kings: Janneman Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis ©, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Leus du Plooy, Donavon Ferreira, Romario Shepherd, George Garton, Alzarri Joseph, Gerald Coetzee, Aaron Phangiso
MI Cape Town: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Delano Potgieter, Connor Esterhuizen, Sam Curran, Kieron Pollard ©, Waqar Salamkheil, George Linde, Thomas Kaber, Kagiso Rabada, Nuwan Thushara
Prediction
The laggards of the points table, Joburg Super Kings, will be eager to change the tide in the tournament from Monday and make a case of qualifying for the top four. However, the team is unlikely to score a win as MI Cape Town will walk into the match at the Newlands in Cape Town as favorites.
The franchise has performed slightly better in the tournament so far as compared to the Super Kings and their players seem to be in a better shape and form.