Ryan Rickelton posted his highest ever T20 score but it was in vain as the Durban Super Giants clinched a titanic Betway SA20 opener against MI Cape Town by 15 runs at WSB Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday evening.
Having won the toss and electing to bat first, the Super Giants posted a mammoth, record 232 for five with Devon Conway top-scoring with 64 and George Linde the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-46 in his four overs.
In reply, Rickelton smashed five boundaries and a staggering 11 maximums from 63 balls before falling in the final over for 113 as MICT replied with 217 for seven, handing DSG victory over the defending champions.
It was a pulsating match in which Rickelton was handed two lives, first on 85 when he was caught by Kane Williamson at short thirdman from the bowling of Kwena Maphaka (4-0-43-1), but was called back to the crease for a no-ball. Then, when on 104, he was dropped by Eathan Bosch from the bowling of David Wiese (4-0-39-1) at long-on.
However, Rickelton finally submitted, caught by Evan Jones at long-off from the bowling of Bosch (4-0-46-4) from the first ball of the final over to seal the home side’s fate.
The hosts lost the early wicket of Rassie van der Dussen (2), caught by Wiese from the bowling of Bosch. However, Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks (28) set about laying the foundation for the mammoth chase, with a second-wicket stand of 60 from 40 balls.
With Hendricks looking to kick-on, Simon Harmer (2-0-23-1) found a gap in Hendricks’ defences and broke the stumps, not after Hendricks had cracked three maximums from 21 balls.
Jason Smith (41) was sent up the order, ahead of West Indian Nicholas Pooran, and Smith did not disappoint. The former Western Province batsman struck four boundaries and three sixes from just 14 balls, while sharing in a staggering stand of 76 from only 29 balls with Rickelton for the third wicket to really have the fans believing in a fairytale chase.
However, enter Bosch again and the brother of Corbin broke the stand, having Smith caught at mid-on by Aiden Markram. Pooran (15) struck one six and a four but holed out to Jos Buttler from the bowling of Wiese while Dwaine Pretorius (5) and George Linde (0) fell in quick succession.
Earlier, Conway’s 33-ball knock which included seven boundaries and two sixes, while sharing in an opening stand of 96 with Williamson (40) from 52 balls, set the stage for the record total.
Williamson himself struck seven fours from 25 balls but was sent packing by Tristan Luus (4-0-50-1), brilliantly caught by Rashid Khan running back from mid-off to take a diving catch over his shoulder.
Buttler (20) faced 12 balls including two fours and a six but holed out to Trent Boult from the bowling of Corbin (3-0-44-1). The partnerships continued to frustrate the home side’s attack as Heinrich Klaasen (22), given a life on 13 by Rashid off his own bowling, struck two boundaries and a six.
Klaasen’s departure, caught by Bosch from the spin of Linde (4-0-46-2), brought Markram to the crease and the former Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain, struck five fours and a six from 17 balls before being stumped by Rickelton from the bowling of Linde.
Jones finished off the innings for the visitors, striking four boundaries and two sixes from only 14 balls, ending unbeaten on 33 with Wiese unbeaten on nine at the other end.
MI CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Nicholas Pooran, George Linde, Jason Smith, Corbin Bosch, Dwaine Pretorius, Rashid Khan (capt), Tristan Luss, Trent Boult.
DURBAN SUPER GIANTS: Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Jos Buttler (wk), Aiden Markram (capt), Heinrich Klaasen, Evan Jones, Daivd Wiese, Eathan Bosch, Simon Harmer, Kwena Maphaka, Noor Ahmed.