lolliplay SA20 Final: MI Cape Town Shock Sunrisers Eastern Cape To Clinch Maiden Crown

Kagiso Rabada shone in the SA final Kagiso Rabada shone in the SA final

MI Cape Town fended off Sunrisers Eastern Cape to capture their first SA20 title, prevailing by 76 runs as Kagiso Rabada closed out a cagey final. (Match Highlights | More Cricket News)

It was a true team effort from MI Cape Town – who finished bottom in both 2023 and 2024 – with the bat, as five players made totals of 20 or more – none scoring more than 39 runs.

Sunelita (9th) and Deepika (15th) scored superb field goals to give India a huge morale-boosting 2-0 lead but soon saw it being cancelled out by Germany's Viktoria Huse, who converted penalty corners in the 23rd and 32nd minutes to bring her team on level terms.

Marco Jansen, Richard Gleeson and Liam Dawson all scalped two wickets apiece for Eastern Cape, though only four of those came before the 16th over of the MI innings.

Dewald Brevis hit 38 runs off 18 balls before he was caught by Aiden Markram, while team-mate Connor Esterhuizen was on 39 when he fell victim to Jansen's diving catch.

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MI Cape Town could only add six runs through three overs after that,jilicrown login but their score of 181-8 proved easily defendable.

Toney De Zorzi (26), Tom Abell (30) and Tristan Stubbs (15) were the only Sunrisers batters to reach double figures, but Rashid Khan trapped the former lbw, then caught the latter.

That left Eastern Cape – the two-time defending champions – relying on their tail, but Rabada had no mercy, finishing with brilliant figures of 4-14 through 3.4 overs as they were bowled out for 105.

Speaking after the game, victorious captain Rashid said: "It feels amazing and unbelievable - especially after being at the bottom of the table in the last two years.

"I'm so happy. I have no words."

THIS IS FOR YOU 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍WE ARE THE 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 #MICapeTown #OneFamily #MICTvSEC #BetwaySA20Final pic.twitter.com/ZNFijE7muQlolliplay

— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) February 8, 2025