MICT VS SEC MATCH 8

Right then, that's all from this entertaining game where the defending champions, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape emerged victorious and got the first win of this year's SA20 League. The 2024 SA20 League action continues on Wednesday, the 17th of January, when the Paarl Royals lock horns with the Joburg Super Kings at the picturesque Boland Park in Paarl. That game will begin at 9 pm IST (3.30 pm GMT), but you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care, and goodbye!

Jordan Hermann is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH  for his scintillating ton. He shares that he is very happy to contribute to his team and that it has been a tremendous learning experience for him. Says that the seniors are really encouraging and supportive. He says that he played with a lot of freedom because they have a good depth in their batting line-up. He thanks the management for believing in him and concludes by saying that he will look forward to more consistent performances for his team.

Aiden Markram, the skipper of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape says that he is very happy to get the win. Adds it was a great game of cricket and it was nice to end up on the winning side. Mentions that there were tense moments but the boys executed their plans which was pleasing to see. On Ottniel Baartman, he replies that he executed his plans at the death and during the middle phase and he is happy that he got the reward. On Jordan Hermann, he replies that he is a fantastic player and has all the shots in the book. Adds that he is stoked for Hermann that it came off for him.

The captain of MI Cape Town, Kieron Pollard says that he is enjoying cricket after being out of action for some time and that he has played a lot of T20 cricket around the globe and tries to inculcate his experience in the youngsters. Adds that three games on the bounce laid the foundation for them and that the Sunrisers had them in the first half but lost a couple of wickets in the middle. Appreciates Jordan Hermann and says that he batted really well in the first innings with Dawid Malan. Adds that he hasn't bowled for 6-8 months but he was able to execute his plans well. Ends up by saying that it was a close game and they ended up second best but says that there are many positives in the game.

Time for presentations....

Earlier in the game, after opting to bat first, Sunrisers Eastern Cape were off to a solid start courtesy of the two openers. Playing in his first game of the season, Dawid Malan looked as fluent as ever while the young Jordan Hermann was matching the veteran shot for shot. Malan got to his fifty as did Hermann to lay a solid foundation for the innings with a 138-run stand. Malan got out on 53 but Hermann carried on his merry way and kept finding boundaries at will. MI Cape Town staged a mini-comeback towards the end but they were not able to stop Hermann from getting to his ton. An unbeaten 106 from Jordan Hermann powered the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to 202. For the MI Cape Town, skipper Kieron Pollard was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 22 from his three overs.

As far as the MI Cape Town are concerned, they will be gutted by this loss. With 203 to chase, MI Cape Town needed a good start in the Powerplay to get a good head start. The pair of Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton picked up where they left off. Rickelton raced to his third consecutive fifty while van der Dussenn was happy to play the second fiddle in the partnership. At 108-0, Cape Town were going along nicely but the departure of Rickleton triggered a mini-collapse and they soon found themselves in a spot of bother at 124-4. Sam Curran and Kieron Pollard then got together and began the rescue act for Cape Town where they took calculated risks. With 26 runs needed off the last 12 balls and the experience of Kieron Pollard at the crease, Cape Town would have fancied their chances but he departed at the most inopportune time. It left Sam Curran with all to do but the English all-rounder could not manage to take his side over the line on the night.

TAKE A BOW, OTTNIEL BAARTMAN! A sensational comeback from Baartman after being hit for a maximum on the first ball! The defending champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape get their first win in the 2024 SA20 League. However, it was not the best of starts for them with the ball, conceding 64 runs in the Powerplay. They were taken to the cleaners by the two MI Cape Town openers and found themselves right behind the eight ball. Ottniel Baartman started the fight back for his side by breaking the opening stand. Liam Dawson got into the act before Baartman stuck twice in a single over to put the Eastern Cape on top. Just when it was looking like Kieron Pollard would take the game away from them, Daniel Worrall got rid of him to swing the game back in his side's favour. With 9 runs needed off the last 5 balls, Baartman held his nerves and nailed his yorkers when it mattered the most to seal a 4-run victory for his team.

A dot ball and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape WIN BY 4 RUNS! Ottniel Baartman fires it in fuller and aims the pads, he executes it pretty well and Sam Curran is beaten completely on that one as he tries to go over the leg side. Ottniel Baartman celebrates aggressively. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape win the first game of this competition with a thriller of a match. What a humdinger that went all the way down to the wire. Ottniel Baartman was absolutely precise with his plans in the last over.

In the air...and safe! A full toss outside off, Connor Esterhuizen tries to go downtown but ends up slicing it over the third man region and takes a single. It's Sam Curran now to face the last delivery.

Bowls a yorker down leg, Sam Curran misses out on flick and wears on his boot towards the off side. They do run for a leg bye.

WIDE! Would you believe it? Fires it down leg and Sam Curran is happy to let it go alone to the keeper. A poor one there by Baartman!

Full and wide outside off, another good delivery, Connor Esterhuizen drives it hard towards extra covers and shoots off for a single.

Good response from Ottniel Baartman! Follows up with a wide yorker outside off, Connor Esterhuizen plays and misses to the keeper. 9 off 4 now.

SIX! That's MASSIVE and has gone for miles! Ottniel Baartman bowls a juicy full toss and Connor Esterhuizen readies himself for a pick-up shot and hits it massively over the deep mid-wicket for a huge maximum. 9 runs needed off 5 balls now.

Ottniel Baartman (3-0-26-3) has been given the task of bowling the final over. He has been the star with the ball for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, can he defend 14 runs here?

SIX! Sam Curran has connected it well enough! What a shot! Poor from Daniel Worrall as he offers a full toss outside off, Sam Curran is smart enough to detect it and shuffles across the off stump and just picks it up over the deep mid-wicket for a crucial six. 15 off the last over is the equation now.