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An excellent innings from Senuran Muthusamy helped the Pretoria Capitals secure a vital four-wicket victory over MI Cape Town in the Betway SA20 at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.
Muthusamy struck three sixes and two boundaries in an unbeaten innings of 38 from 18 balls to help his side move – temporarily – into fourth spot ahead of MI Cape Town and the Joburg Super Kings. Who take on the Durban Super Giants in Johannesburg in the late game on Saturday.
Should the Super Kings beat the Super Giants, then they will face off against the Paarl Royals in the Eliminator on Wednesday – fail, and Wayne Parnell’s men will make their way to Johannesburg for the Eliminator.
The Capitals, ending on 167 for six in pursuit of 164 for victory, were seemingly limping their way to defeat after Phil Salt (7), Will Jacks (1) and Rilee Rossouw (10) had departed early. Colin Ackermann (17) lasted just 16 balls while Kyle Verreynne continued his good form of the season, striking one four and three sixes from 22 balls before being caught on the long-on boundary by man of the match Kagiso Rabada from the bowling of George Linde (4-0-36-2) for 24.
Once Verreynne departed, MI Cape Town looked set to secure victory, especially after Sam Curran (4-0-39-1) and Rabada (4-0-24-1) had stifled the Capitals early on and then Linde and Liam Livingstone (3-0-14-1) had controlled the middle overs.
However, a bizarre decision by Kieron Pollard to take Livingstone out of the attack and bowl himself, swung momentum to the visitors. Pollard conceded 14 runs in his only over as Theunis de Bruyn (42) and Muthusamy rescued the ailing chase with a stand of 55 from 36 balls for the 6th wicket.
MI Cape Town’s best bowler, leg-spinner Thomas Kaber was also not bowled, leaving fans confused to the decisions made.
But despite De Bruyn’s departure, caught at long-off by Pollard off Nuwan Thushara (3.4-0-40-1) Muthusamy, with some lovely and inventive reverse-flicks for six, saw his side to victory with Wayne Parnell (12 not out) and a chance of making the Eliminator.
Earlier, Pollard had won the toss and elected to bat first. Rassie van der Dussen (60) and Ryan Rickelton (35) gave their side a solid start with an opening stand of 62 from 43 balls as MI Cape Town posted 163 for nine. However, Jacks bowled brilliantly in the power play, conceding just 18 runs from his three overs.
Once Rickelton departed, caught by Rossouw at short cover from the bowling of Ackermann (1-0-13-1), the home side lost their way a bit as Livingstone (6), Curran (3) and Dewald Brevis (9) failed to impress.
Pollard’s entry into the fray changed the momentum of the innings, striking four sixes and a boundary form 16 balls in a stand worth 34 from 17 balls with Van der Dussen, who himself had struck four boundaries and a six from 46 balls.
However, the penultimate over, bowled by Eathen Bosch (3-0-31-2) changed the complexion of the innings has he had Van der Dussen caught at square-leg by Ackermann and then had Pollard bobbing a ball behind to Salt.
Parnell (4-0-33-4) then cleaned up the innings with three wickets in his final over, having Linde (5) caught by Jacks at long-off, Rabada (1) caught by Ackermann on the mid-wicket fence and then clean-bowling Thushara for a golden duck with the final ball of the innings.
