As the second season of SA20 nears its business end, with only four league matches left to play in the next couple of days, the excitement has reached fever pitch. Durban Super Giants, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, and Paarl Royals have already secured their spots in the knockouts, leaving MI Cape Town, Joburg Super Kings, and Pretoria Capitals in contention for the fourth spot.
The upcoming clash between Kieron Pollard‘s MICT and Wayne Parnell‘s Capitals, set to take place on Saturday afternoon at Cape Town’s Newlands, carries significant importance for both teams.
To assess the qualification scenario for both teams, MICT currently sits at No. 4 with 13 points. They must emerge victorious in their last game against PC at their home ground. Securing a bonus point would further solidify their position. Additionally, they require JSK to lose their final league game against DSG.
On the other hand, PC, currently at the bottom of the table with 10 points, must win their last match against MICT. They also need JSK to lose their final match, as JSK currently holds 13 points.
What have they done so far?
In the SA20’s second season, MICT showed mixed performance, winning 3 out of 9 matches. They began with a loss to DSG but bounced back with a commanding 98-run win against JSK. Despite setbacks against Sunrisers, they secured a win over Royals with 8 wickets to spare.
However, they suffered four consecutive defeats against Royals, DSG, Sunrisers, and JSK, disrupting their mid-season form. Their momentum returned with a 34-run victory over Pretoria in the last game, providing a glimmer of hope.
On the flip side, Pretoria faced early challenges in the season, losing their initial two matches to Royals by 27 and 10 runs. They gained some traction in the third game with a 17-run victory against DSG, but subsequent losses to JSK and SEC followed.
Verreynne smashed 116 against MICT, the highest score by any wicket-keeper in SA20
Afterwards, they took the revenge against SEC in the next match, winning the game by just 3 runs. Their next game against JSK got washed out due to rain. Pretoria in their last two matches also got unsuccessful and lost to DSG and MICT by 8 and 34 runs.
Head to Head Record
In the history of SA20, MICT and PC have faced each other three times. Pretoria emerged victorious in two of those matches, while MICT secured one win.
Notably, Pretoria clinched both encounters against MICT in the last season. However, MICT reversed the trend by claiming their first victory against Pretoria on Thursday.
Key Players
Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town): Ryan Rickelton, Wicketkeeper Batsman for MICT, has been a standout performer throughout the season, amassing an impressive 495 runs in just 9 matches at a remarkable average of 61.88 and a striking strike rate of 176.16. His consistent form includes five half-centuries and a big innings of 90 runs against the Capitals.
Rickelton failed to convert his three scores in the nineties into hundreds
Rickelton’s brilliant hitting has made him a valuable asset for his team, and his upcoming showdown against Pretoria promises to be a thrilling encounter, especially after his recent noteworthy innings against the same opponent.
Will Jacks (Pretoria Capitals): The batting all-rounder, Will Jacks, presents a formidable challenge for MICT with his multifaceted skills. In the ongoing season, Jacks has displayed his prowess in both batting and bowling departments. Having played 9 matches thus far, the 25-year-old has accumulated 244 runs, securing the sixth position among the highest run-getters.
His batting average of 30.50, punctuated by a century and a half-century, reflects his ability to make impactful contributions with the bat. Additionally, Jacks boasts the second-highest strike rate in the tournament, standing at an impressive 183.46. On the bowling front, he has scalped 6 wickets in 6 innings, maintaining an average of 21.66, an economy rate of 6.50, and a strike rate of 20.
Predicted Playing XIs
MI Cape Town: Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Liam Livingstone, Dewald Brevis, Sam Curran, Kieron Pollard ©, George Linde, Thomas Kaber, Nealan van Heerden, Kagiso Rabada, Nuwan Thushara
Pretoria Capitals: Phil Salt (wk), Will Jacks, Kyle Verreynne, Rilee Rossouw, Colin Ackermann, Colin Ingram, Theunis de Bruyn, Wayne Parnell ©, Eathan Bosch, Adil Rashid, Daryn Dupavillon
Prediction
Looking at their current form, MICT will be determined to seal the deal against PC, positioning themselves to qualify for the next round this season, especially considering their last-place finish in the previous season. The team winning the toss will likely opt to bowl first, considering the pitch tends to become more challenging for batting in the second innings at Cape Town.