Cricket fans were treated to an electrifying showdown on February 8, 2025, when MI Cape Town vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape Match Scorecard, in the SA20 2025 Final at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. This match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with MI Cape Town emerging victorious by a commanding 76 runs, clinching their maiden SA20 title. If you’re a cricket enthusiast or just someone who loves a good sports story, let’s dive into the match details, key moments, and a comprehensive scorecard to break it all down in a way that’s easy to follow for fans of all ages.
The Build-Up to the SA20 Final
The SA20 2025 season was a thrilling journey, and the final was the perfect climax. MI Cape Town, a team that had finished at the bottom in the previous two seasons, turned their fortunes around under the leadership of Rashid Khan. Their journey to the final was marked by resilience and standout performances, especially from players like Dewald Brevis and Delano Potgieter. On the other hand, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, led by Aiden Markram, were the two-time defending champions, known for their ability to bounce back from early setbacks. Despite a rocky start to the season, they fought their way to the final, making this clash a battle of redemption versus dominance.
The Wanderers pitch was expected to offer something for both batters and bowlers, with the new ball likely to swing and seam early on. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping to restrict MI Cape Town on a ground known for high-scoring games. What followed was a masterclass in T20 cricket, with MI Cape Town’s bowlers stealing the show.
Match Overview: MI Cape Town’s Dominance
MI Cape Town posted a competitive total of 181/8 in their 20 overs, thanks to fiery contributions from Connor Esterhuizen, Dewald Brevis, and Ryan Rickelton. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape, chasing 182 for victory, struggled against MI Cape Town’s relentless bowling attack and were bowled out for just 105 in 18.4 overs. Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, and George Linde were the stars with the ball, ensuring MI Cape Town’s first-ever SA20 title.
Let’s break down the match, inning by inning, and highlight the key moments that shaped this historic victory.
MI Cape Town’s Batting: Setting the Tone
MI Cape Town’s batting innings was a blend of aggression and stability. The openers, Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen, gave the team a blazing start, putting on a 50-run partnership inside the first five overs. Rickelton, in particular, was in attacking mode, smashing 33 runs off just 15 balls, including a flurry of boundaries and sixes. His aggressive approach set the tone, but he fell to a well-executed delivery from Liam Dawson.
Rassie van der Dussen played a more measured role, scoring 23 off 25 balls, ensuring the team didn’t lose momentum after early wickets. Dewald Brevis, nicknamed “Baby AB” for his resemblance to AB de Villiers, lit up the stadium with a scintillating 38 off 18 balls, including five sixes. His ability to take on the spinners, particularly Dawson, was a game-changer. Connor Esterhuizen chipped in with a solid 39 off 26 balls, providing stability in the middle order.
The lower order, including George Linde and Delano Potgieter, added crucial runs to push MI Cape Town to 181/8. Linde’s massive 92-meter six off Dawson was a highlight, showcasing his power-hitting ability. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, MI Cape Town’s aggressive batting in the powerplay and smart play in the middle overs ensured they set a challenging target.
Key Batting Performances (MI Cape Town)
-
Ryan Rickelton: 33 runs off 15 balls (strike rate 220.00)
-
Dewald Brevis: 38 runs off 18 balls (strike rate 211.11)
-
Connor Esterhuizen: 39 runs off 26 balls (strike rate 150.00)
-
Rassie van der Dussen: 23 runs off 25 balls (strike rate 92.00)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Bowling: A Mixed Bag
Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s bowlers had moments of brilliance but struggled to contain MI Cape Town’s aggressive batting. Liam Dawson was the pick of the bowlers, taking key wickets, including Rickelton and Brevis, but his flighted deliveries were punished, especially by Linde. Marco Jansen and Craig Overton bowled tightly in patches but couldn’t prevent the flow of runs in the powerplay. The Sunrisers’ decision to bowl first backfired as they failed to capitalize on the early movement offered by the pitch.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Batting: A Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing 182, Sunrisers Eastern Cape needed a strong start, but MI Cape Town’s bowlers had other plans. Trent Boult struck early, dismissing Jordan Hermann for just 1 run, caught by Ryan Rickelton. Boult’s double-wicket maiden in the third over put the Sunrisers on the back foot, with Tom Abell also falling, chipping a catch back to the bowler.
Tony de Zorzi showed some resistance, scoring 26 off 23 balls, but he was trapped lbw by Rashid Khan, who bowled with precision on a pitch offering some turn. Aiden Markram, the Sunrisers’ captain, managed only 6 runs before falling to George Linde, who also accounted for Tom Abell (30 off 25). Tristan Stubbs, known for his explosive batting, was dismissed for a low score, caught by Rashid Khan off Boult.
Marco Jansen, who had been a standout performer for Sunrisers throughout the season, tried to revive the chase but was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada, who took a brilliant catch off his own bowling. Rabada was the star with the ball, finishing with figures of 4/25 in 3.4 overs, including the wickets of David Bedingham and Liam Dawson. Corbin Bosch wrapped up the innings by dismissing Craig Overton, with Rashid Khan taking an easy catch at long-on.
The Sunrisers’ batting crumbled under the pressure of MI Cape Town’s disciplined bowling attack, finishing at 105/10 in 18.4 overs. The collapse was a stark contrast to their reputation as a resilient team, highlighting the brilliance of MI Cape Town’s bowlers.
Key Batting Performances (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
-
Tom Abell: 30 runs off 25 balls (strike rate 120.00)
-
Tony de Zorzi: 26 runs off 23 balls (strike rate 113.04)
-
Aiden Markram: 6 runs off 5 balls (strike rate 120.00)
MI Cape Town’s Bowling: A Masterclass
MI Cape Town’s bowlers were relentless, with Kagiso Rabada leading the charge. His pace and accuracy were too much for the Sunrisers’ batters, and his 4 wickets were crucial in dismantling their lineup. Trent Boult set the tone with his early breakthroughs, finishing with 2/9 in 4 overs, while George Linde’s spin accounted for 2 wickets, including the key scalp of Markram. Rashid Khan, the captain, bowled economically and picked up a crucial wicket, ensuring the Sunrisers had no chance of a comeback.
Key Bowling Performances (MI Cape Town)
-
Kagiso Rabada: 4/25 in 3.4 overs (economy 6.82)
-
Trent Boult: 2/9 in 4 overs (economy 2.25)
-
George Linde: 2 wickets in his spell
-
Rashid Khan: 1 wicket, economical spell
MI Cape Town vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape Match Scorecard (SA20 Final, February 8, 2025)
Below is the detailed scorecard for the match, capturing every key detail in an easy-to-read format.
|
Team |
Batting |
R |
B |
4s |
6s |
S/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MI Cape Town (181/8, 20 overs) |
||||||
|
Ryan Rickelton (wk) |
c Markram b Dawson |
33 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 220.00 |
|
Rassie van der Dussen |
c Stubbs b Jansen |
23 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 92.00 |
|
Dewald Brevis |
c Overton b Dawson |
38 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 211.11 |
|
Connor Esterhuizen |
c Hermann b Baartman |
39 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 150.00 |
|
George Linde |
c de Zorzi b Overton |
20 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 142.86 |
|
Delano Potgieter |
not out |
13 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 130.00 |
|
Reeza Hendricks |
b Jansen |
5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 |
|
Corbin Bosch |
c Stubbs b Overton |
2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
|
Rashid Khan (c) |
c Markram b Baartman |
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Kagiso Rabada |
not out |
8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
|
Extras |
(B: 0, LB: 2, NB: 0, WD: 3, P: 0) |
5 | ||||
|
Total |
181/8 (20 overs, RR: 9.05) |
|
Bowling (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) |
O |
M |
R |
W |
E/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marco Jansen |
4 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 8.75 |
|
Craig Overton |
4 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 |
|
Liam Dawson |
4 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 10.00 |
|
Richard Gleeson |
3 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 |
|
Ottneil Baartman |
3 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 10.00 |
|
Andile Simelane |
2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 |
|
Team |
Batting |
R |
B |
4s |
6s |
S/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sunrisers Eastern Cape (105/10, 18.4 overs) |
||||||
|
David Bedingham |
c Linde b Rabada |
5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 62.50 |
|
Tony de Zorzi |
lbw b Rashid Khan |
26 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 113.04 |
|
Jordan Hermann |
c Rickelton b Boult |
1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
|
Tom Abell |
st Rickelton b Linde |
30 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 120.00 |
|
Aiden Markram (c) |
c Rabada b Linde |
6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 120.00 |
|
Tristan Stubbs (wk) |
c Rashid Khan b Boult |
10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
|
Marco Jansen |
c Rashid Khan b Rabada |
15 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 107.14 |
|
Liam Dawson |
c Esterhuizen b Rabada |
4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
|
Craig Overton |
c Rashid Khan b Bosch |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
|
Andile Simelane |
not out |
2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Richard Gleeson |
b Rabada |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Extras |
(B: 0, LB: 2, NB: 0, WD: 4, P: 0) |
6 | ||||
|
Total |
105/10 (18.4 overs, RR: 5.63) |
|
Bowling (MI Cape Town) |
O |
M |
R |
W |
E/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Trent Boult |
4 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 2.25 |
|
Corbin Bosch |
3.2 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 5.93 |
|
Kagiso Rabada |
3.4 | 0 | 25 | 4 | 6.82 |
|
George Linde |
4 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 5.75 |
|
Rashid Khan |
4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
Result: MI Cape Town won by 76 runs.
Player of the Match: Trent Boult (2/9 in 4 overs).
Key Moments That Defined the Match
-
Rickelton and van der Dussen’s Powerplay Blitz: The 50-run opening stand in just five overs set the tone for MI Cape Town’s innings, putting pressure on the Sunrisers’ bowlers early on.
-
Brevis’ Explosive Batting: Dewald Brevis’ 38 off 18, with five sixes, was a turning point, giving MI Cape Town the momentum to post a competitive total.
-
Boult’s Double-Wicket Maiden: Trent Boult’s early breakthroughs in the third over derailed the Sunrisers’ chase, setting a defensive tone.
-
Rabada’s Fiery Spell: Kagiso Rabada’s 4/25, including the wickets of Jansen and Dawson, ensured the Sunrisers had no chance of a comeback.
-
Linde’s Spin Magic: George Linde’s wickets of Markram and Abell, combined with his economical bowling, choked the Sunrisers in the middle overs.
What Made MI Cape Town’s Victory Special?
MI Cape Town’s journey to the SA20 2025 title was nothing short of remarkable. After finishing last in the previous two seasons, their transformation under Rashid Khan’s leadership was inspiring. The team’s ability to handle pressure, especially in the powerplay, was a key factor. As Aiden Markram noted post-match, MI Cape Town’s bowlers made it tough with their swing and seam, while their batters, particularly Brevis, played fearless cricket.
Trent Boult, the Player of the Match, highlighted the team’s unity and the competitive spirit of the SA20 league. “The boys were fantastic tonight. I loved it, it has been great fun,” he said. For a franchise with a history of underperforming, this victory was a testament to their hard work and strategic planning.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Fight Despite Defeat
Despite the loss, Sunrisers Eastern Cape showed why they are a champion team. After a shaky start to the season, including a 97-run defeat to MI Cape Town in the opening match, they fought back to reach the final. Their resilience, led by Markram’s captaincy, was commendable, but they couldn’t match MI Cape Town’s intensity on the day.
Why This Match Matters
This final wasn’t just about a trophy; it was about MI Cape Town rewriting their story. For fans, it was a reminder of why T20 cricket is so exciting—unpredictable, fast-paced, and full of drama. The match also showcased young talents like Dewald Brevis, who is being tipped as a future star, and veterans like Kagiso Rabada, who proved why he’s one of the best in the world.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for MI Cape Town
The SA20 2025 Final between MI Cape Town vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape Match Scorecard was a classic T20 encounter, with MI Cape Town’s bowlers and batters outclassing a formidable opponent. The scorecard tells the story of a team that seized the moment, with standout performances from Rabada, Boult, Brevis, and Esterhuizen. For fans of all ages, this match was a thrilling display of skill, strategy, and heart.
