In a thrilling contest on Wednesday, January 18, Sunrisers Eastern Cape edged out MI Cape Town by just two wickets and three balls to spare in an SA20 game at the Newlands Stadium. Marco Jansen’s stunning 27-ball 66 turned out to be the difference between the two sides.
When Jordan Cox was run out in the 15th over, Eastern Cape were in trouble at 101 for 6. However, in the 16th over, Jansen lifted Eastern Cape’s sagging spirits by smashing Rashid Khan for 28 runs. Jansen used his long levers to employ the slog-sweep, loft, and pull to club one of the premier T20 bowlers going around over deep midwicket and long-on.
Jansen proceeded to tonk Kagiso Rabada for a four and a six to bring the equation down to just 25 off three overs. Cape Town’s pace spearhead, Jofra Archer, then gave away just seven runs in the 18th over to put a bit of pressure back on the opposition. Jansen, though, collected a couple more sixes off Rabada as the equation came down to just four runs in the final over.
Rabada did pick up a couple of wickets in the penultimate over, including that of Jansen. But by then, it seemed as if Eastern Cape would eke out a memorable win. Roelof van der Merwe and Sisanda Magala steered the side home in the last over.
Sunrisers beat Cape Town for the 2nd time in the tournament
Earlier, Sunrisers won the toss and opted to bowl first, Grant Roelofsen (56 runs) and Ryan Rickleton (46 runs) were the mainstays of Cape Town’s batting effort. Lower down the order, Odean Smith (13-ball 25 not out) and Delano Potgieter (13-ball 21 not out) also made useful contributions.
Meanwhile, Van der Merwe ended up with 2 for 21 from his quota of four overs, while Ottniel Baartman finished with 2 for 21 from his three overs. Jansen also bowled an economical spell of none for 29 from four overs. Sunrisers won against the Cape Town team a couple of days back and have done the same once again but this time the game was very close.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
Kavya ji khush toh bohot hongi aaj#SA20League
— Cricketbugs (@Cricketbugs0) January 19, 2023
That was insane Hitting from Jansen 🔥🔥
— Anu (@krishnananu07) January 18, 2023
Jansen returned his debts to Rashidh with Intrest
— AJAY (@ajay71845) January 18, 2023
Seeing Rashid khan being bashed only after eoin Morgan done in the 2019 WC
— Attend (@needumjan) January 18, 2023
Mah man bullying rashid and rabada 😭😭😭
— bye_bye (@aatifrafee) January 18, 2023
Marco has Absolutely brutal power to hit sixes.
— A.Ashwal (@Ashwal7A) January 18, 2023
Is chutiye ne mujhe Hara dia dream 11 mai
— Ajay (@AjaySha90825607) January 18, 2023
Not much power used . Just used a jhadu to sweep. Proper gully cricket shots 😭😭
— Shreyash Samantaray (@iamShreyashSam) January 18, 2023
