217/7 (20.0)
CR : 10.85
232/5 (20.0)
CR : 11.60
Durban Super Giants won by 15 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Ryan Rickelton
113(63)
DSG won by 15 runs
12:34 AM IST and 9:04 PM Local Time: Durban Super Giants win by 15 runs! Runs, runs and more runs! That has been the order in the first game of Season 4 of the SA20! My word haven't we been treated to some really thunderous hits all through the evening? Both teams boasting of some really powerful batters displayed the modern form of short version cricket to its absolute best.
The Durban Super Giants won the toss and elected to bat first. A decision that surprised many, but their openers started in fine fashion. Devon Conway and Kane Williamson took down the likes of Trent Boult and Rashid Khan with some ease. They set the tone early with classical and cute boundaries. Played risk free cricket before a blinder from Rashid Khan at long off ended the 92 runs opening stand. Williamson was dismissed for 40 off 25.
That didn't change much as the batters to follow came and played some lovely cameos. Jos Buttler (22 off 12), Heinrich Klaasen (22 off 14). Devon Conway on the other end batters beautifully to bring up the first fifty of SA20. He was eventually dismissed for 64 off 33 balls. The duo of Aiden Markram 35 off 17 and Evan Jones 33 off 14 closed the game out so brutally and pumped the DSG side to a mammoth 232/5. The bowling card was a poor one and only Trent Boult with 1-32 had an Economy less than 10.
Chasing 233, the MICT got off to a very sluggish start. They were 24/1 in 4 overs and lost Rassie Van der Dussen for just 2. Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks settled the nerves and scored briskly but despite scoring at 10 an over the rate just kept on rising and reached 14+ at one point.
That is when Hendricks fell and in walked Jason Smith. Not many know about him, but he played some innings to make people remember him for the future. He added serious fire and interest to the chase. With him Rickelton too started to clear the boundary more regularly and crossed fifty in a flash. The pair together put 76 off just 27 balls and brought their team right back into the hunt. That is when Bosch dismissed Smith for 41 off 14 balls.
The required became really possible at that point and it came to 91 off 7 overs. Rickelton continued to blast everything and found support in Nicholas Pooran. They smashed every bowler that came their way. Maphaka dismissed Rickelton when the batter was on 85 only for it to be a no ball and the batter was called back. He made full use of the opportunity and reached triple figures. Notched up the first 100 of SA20 2025-26.
The required came down to 49 off 3 overs. That is when Pooran was dismissed but that over too leaked 18 runs and with 31 off 12 needed and 6 wickets in hand, MICT all of a sudden became favorites to win the contest. Kwena Maphaka bounced back to bowl a superb 19th over. Gave just 9 runs and dismissed the dangerous Dwaine Pretorius.
With 22 off 6 needed, the MICT needed Rickelton to play the six balls. As luck would have it, he was dismissed off the first ball of the bowling of Eathan Bosch and departed for 113 off 63 balls. Bosch took another wicket in the over and eventually the Durban Super Giants emerged victorious by 15 runs.
The pick of the bowlers for the Durban Super Giants was Eathan Bosch (4-46). Markram will have a massive smile on his face as his team has beaten the defending champions by a fair margin in a six hitting phenomenon.
The Durban Super Giants won the toss and elected to bat first. A decision that surprised many, but their openers started in fine fashion. Devon Conway and Kane Williamson took down the likes of Trent Boult and Rashid Khan with some ease. They set the tone early with classical and cute boundaries. Played risk free cricket before a blinder from Rashid Khan at long off ended the 92 runs opening stand. Williamson was dismissed for 40 off 25.
That didn't change much as the batters to follow came and played some lovely cameos. Jos Buttler (22 off 12), Heinrich Klaasen (22 off 14). Devon Conway on the other end batters beautifully to bring up the first fifty of SA20. He was eventually dismissed for 64 off 33 balls. The duo of Aiden Markram 35 off 17 and Evan Jones 33 off 14 closed the game out so brutally and pumped the DSG side to a mammoth 232/5. The bowling card was a poor one and only Trent Boult with 1-32 had an Economy less than 10.
Chasing 233, the MICT got off to a very sluggish start. They were 24/1 in 4 overs and lost Rassie Van der Dussen for just 2. Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks settled the nerves and scored briskly but despite scoring at 10 an over the rate just kept on rising and reached 14+ at one point.
That is when Hendricks fell and in walked Jason Smith. Not many know about him, but he played some innings to make people remember him for the future. He added serious fire and interest to the chase. With him Rickelton too started to clear the boundary more regularly and crossed fifty in a flash. The pair together put 76 off just 27 balls and brought their team right back into the hunt. That is when Bosch dismissed Smith for 41 off 14 balls.
The required became really possible at that point and it came to 91 off 7 overs. Rickelton continued to blast everything and found support in Nicholas Pooran. They smashed every bowler that came their way. Maphaka dismissed Rickelton when the batter was on 85 only for it to be a no ball and the batter was called back. He made full use of the opportunity and reached triple figures. Notched up the first 100 of SA20 2025-26.
The required came down to 49 off 3 overs. That is when Pooran was dismissed but that over too leaked 18 runs and with 31 off 12 needed and 6 wickets in hand, MICT all of a sudden became favorites to win the contest. Kwena Maphaka bounced back to bowl a superb 19th over. Gave just 9 runs and dismissed the dangerous Dwaine Pretorius.
With 22 off 6 needed, the MICT needed Rickelton to play the six balls. As luck would have it, he was dismissed off the first ball of the bowling of Eathan Bosch and departed for 113 off 63 balls. Bosch took another wicket in the over and eventually the Durban Super Giants emerged victorious by 15 runs.
The pick of the bowlers for the Durban Super Giants was Eathan Bosch (4-46). Markram will have a massive smile on his face as his team has beaten the defending champions by a fair margin in a six hitting phenomenon.
Rashid Khan (MI Cape Town Captain): "Well, I think it was a great game of cricket, especially for the fans. We are unlucky to be part of the losing side but you can't expect anything more than this on boxing day. Packed crowd and a great game. I hope they had a good time. We gave away 15-20 more runs in the first innings.
(On Ryan Rickelton's innings) Amazing innings. Last year he played an innings similar to this one but the way he played today was simply unbelieve. He is someone who takes his time in the middle and then shifts gears. It was an unbelievable innings.
Yeah, I think they (DSG) batted really well. They have a strong top 5. At the same time, we have the same. That's the fun in T20s as momentum is key. They had the momentum for the majority part of the match and hence, they won the match.
We are a bit unlucky with the result but I am sure that we have given our everything for the crowd who came in big numbers tonight. It's always great to be here in Cape Town. The support is amazing and hopefully we win the remaining home games this season."
(On Ryan Rickelton's innings) Amazing innings. Last year he played an innings similar to this one but the way he played today was simply unbelieve. He is someone who takes his time in the middle and then shifts gears. It was an unbelievable innings.
Yeah, I think they (DSG) batted really well. They have a strong top 5. At the same time, we have the same. That's the fun in T20s as momentum is key. They had the momentum for the majority part of the match and hence, they won the match.
We are a bit unlucky with the result but I am sure that we have given our everything for the crowd who came in big numbers tonight. It's always great to be here in Cape Town. The support is amazing and hopefully we win the remaining home games this season."
Highest match Aggregates in SA20:
462 - Pretoria Capitals vs MI Cape Town, Centurion (2024)
449 - MI Cape Town vs Durban Super Giants, Cape Town (Tonight)*
425 - Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals, Centurion (2025)
462 - Pretoria Capitals vs MI Cape Town, Centurion (2024)
449 - MI Cape Town vs Durban Super Giants, Cape Town (Tonight)*
425 - Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals, Centurion (2025)
12:46 AM IST & 9:16 PM Local Time: Time for the Post-Match Presentation!
Aiden Markram (Durban Super Giants Captain): "Yeah, entertaining game. I am sure everyone would love to watch that. It was high scoring. An edge of your seat kind of game. A bit of to and fro. It gets you a little nervous but that is the nature of the game.
232 felt enough at the halfway stage. With them hitting that way I did get a little nervous but then we needed 2-3 good overs at the back end. We got that and managed to win.
It is a great start as I had mentioned. Full house here at the Newlands. I am glad to be apart of such a setting as a player. As players we would hope for such settings every time and the tournament will only grow and create much more hype.
Yeah, they played really very well. There are a few things we need to work on, and we do that in the upcoming games we should find ourselves in a good position to win games."
232 felt enough at the halfway stage. With them hitting that way I did get a little nervous but then we needed 2-3 good overs at the back end. We got that and managed to win.
It is a great start as I had mentioned. Full house here at the Newlands. I am glad to be apart of such a setting as a player. As players we would hope for such settings every time and the tournament will only grow and create much more hype.
Yeah, they played really very well. There are a few things we need to work on, and we do that in the upcoming games we should find ourselves in a good position to win games."
Player of the Match: Ryan Rickelton
Ryan Rickelton (Player of the Match): "Yeah, different game from both teams I suppose. I managed to get a good score after being a bit here and there in the last couple of months. It's obviously disappointing to be on the wrong side of the result but in saying that, there were a lot of positives in the group.
Well, in such a steep run chase, at some point you need to make a decision. We lost a bit of momentum at one stage in the middle phase but we cannot relax even one bit on a chase of 230.
Yeah, I enjoyed a lot. It's awesome just to be out here. New team, boxing day, sold out crowd. I am enjoying my time here with my new teammates.
This game was very different to last years boxing day game. Gutted to be on the wrong side of the result but we will take the positives and move on."
Well, in such a steep run chase, at some point you need to make a decision. We lost a bit of momentum at one stage in the middle phase but we cannot relax even one bit on a chase of 230.
Yeah, I enjoyed a lot. It's awesome just to be out here. New team, boxing day, sold out crowd. I am enjoying my time here with my new teammates.
This game was very different to last years boxing day game. Gutted to be on the wrong side of the result but we will take the positives and move on."
What a sensational way to kickstart the fourth season of the SA20. A final-over thriller unfolds here in Cape Town on Boxing Day, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. After finishing bottom of the table last season, Durban Super Giants have made a bold statement this year, bursting into the season with their revamped squad. It was a high-scoring classic and MI Cape Town suffer their first home defeat since February 2024.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Manan Mehta who, along with scorer/analyst Chandan Kr Singh brought all the actions of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Manan Mehta who, along with scorer/analyst Chandan Kr Singh brought all the actions of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋