NEW DELHI: MI Cape Town (MICT) kicked off their SA20 campaign with a commanding 97-run victory over defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) in Gqeberha on Thursday, driven by a masterful performance from Trent Boult.
The Kiwi pacer demonstrated his class with a fiery double-wicket maiden, setting the stage for a clinical all-round performance by MICT.
The turning point came in the second over of SEC's innings. Bowling around the wicket, he delivered a gem to Zak Crawley, who attempted an ambitious slog across the line. The ball stayed low and darted sharply in, sneaking under the bat to crash into the off-stump. Boult celebrated with his trademark intensity as Crawley departed for 12.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Boult didn’t stop there. On the very next ball, he sent Tom Abell back for a golden duck with a stunning caught-and-bowled dismissal.
A full delivery around the middle prompted Abell to drive straight back, but Boult’s lightning reflexes and reverse-cup technique secured a sharp return catch.
Two wickets in two balls left SEC reeling, with no answers to Boult’s precision and movement.
“Without giving away all my secrets, it’s generally a simple plan,” Boult quipped after the match. “I like to pitch the ball up and swing the ball around. Someone told me that this was my first-ever T20 game in South Africa, which makes sense. But yeah, it's a great place to bowl. There was a little bit of swing this afternoon.”
Boult’s brilliance, combined with Dewald Brevis’s explosive 57 off 29 balls and Delano Potgieter’s all-round heroics (25 not out with the bat and 5/10 with the ball), propelled MICT to a dominating win.
SEC faltered in their chase of 175, bowled out for just 77, as no batter crossed the 20-run mark.
“For MI Cape Town, it's obviously a great start to the tournament, so hopefully, this kicks us in the right direction, and there's plenty more to come,” Boult added.
ALSO SEE: No look shot! 'Baby AB' Dewald Brevis smashes ball out of park in SA20 opener - WatchThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
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