MI Cape Town miserable season reached a new nadir when they were dismissed for just 88 and thrashed by seven-wickets after choosing to bat first in their SA20 match against local rivals, Paarl Royals, at Newlands on Sunday afternoon.
It was MI Cape Town’s lowest score in the competition and means the defending champions have now lost four out of five matches with only two points from a washed out match against Durban Super Giants at Kingsmead.
Zimbabwean allrounder, Sikander Raza, claimed 4-13 from his four overs with 19-year-old seamer, Nqobani Mokoena, continuing his excellent form with 2-10 from three overs while the experienced Ottneil Baartman finished the innings with 2.4-0-8-2.
Trent Boult knocked over Lhuan-dre Pretorius (1) in the first over of the run chase but Englishman Asa Tribe’s aggressive 34 from 28 balls, which included a remarkable pulled six against Kagiso Rabada off the front foot, ensured there would be no miracle escape for the home side.
Tribe was bowled by Rashid Khan and Rubin Hermann (18) was a third consolation wicket edging Corbin Bosch to ‘keeper Ryan Rickelton but David Miller’s 19* from nine balls ensured his team won with a bonus point to move into second place on the log.
Earlier MICT openers Rickelton (17) and Rassie van der Dussen (14) both managed a six and a four before miscuing pull shots straight up in the air and the big-hitting Trinidadian, Nicholas Pooran, looked in horrible touch with 17 from 25 balls before another botched pull shot was well caught by ‘keeper Kyle Verreynne after running 40 metres towards deep square leg.
Jason Smith scratched four runs from six balls before Raza bowled him and George Linde (1) chipped a soft return catch straight to the Zimbabwean allrounder in his final over. Rashid Khan gifted Raza a fourth wicket next delivery with an agricultural slog to midwicket, to the delight of the bowler.
Englishman Tom Moores (nine from 14 balls) was as bereft of ideas as everyone else before inside-edging a Mokoena delivery onto his stumps while Reeza Hendricks, having watched six wickets fall at the other end, slapped Afghan spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman to Raza and backward point to depart for a miserable top score of 18 from 24 balls.
The home side remain marooned in last place on the log, five points adrift of fifth placed Pretoria Capitals while the Royals, bowled out for just 43 in their opening game, have surged back with three consecutive victories to move into second place, a point ahead of Sunrisers Eastern Cape and two behind leaders, Joburg Super Kings.
MI CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Tom Moores, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Rashid Khan (captain), Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult
PAARL ROYALS: Asa Tribe, Lhun-dre Pretorius, Rubin Hermann, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), David Miller (captain), Sikander Raza, Delano Potgieter, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Nqobani Mokoena, Bjorn Fortuin, Ottneil Baartman.