The third season of the SA20 kicked off on Thursday, January 9, with a thrilling match between MI Cape Town and the defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth. The contest ended in a resounding 97-run victory for MI Cape Town, marking their first win over Sunrisers in SA20 history.
MI Cape Town set a competitive total of 174 for 7. Dewald Brevis was instrumental with an explosive 57 off 29 balls, including six sixes. Other notable contributions came from Connor Esterhuizen and Colin Ingram, both scoring 22 runs each. Delano Potgieter chipped in with an unbeaten 25 off 12 balls, batting with a bat gifted by Virat Kohli to Rashid Khan.
The real hero of the match was Delano Potgieter, who delivered a phenomenal bowling performance. He took five wickets for just 10 runs in three overs, dismantling the Sunrisers’ batting lineup. His figures are now the best by a seamer in SA20 history.
The Sunrisers, led by Aiden Markram, struggled to chase the target and were bowled out for a mere 77 runs. Potgieter’s spell was pivotal in their downfall, as he removed key batsmen including Beyers Swanepoel, David Bedingham, and Aiden Markram.
Delano Potgieter, a 28-year-old right-arm seamer from Port Elizabeth, has been making waves in South African cricket. Born in 1996, he has showcased his skills in first-class tournaments and was part of Gauteng’s squad in the 2018 Africa T20 Cup, where he topped the batting charts with 217 runs from six matches.
Potgieter also excelled in the 2018–19 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge, leading Gauteng’s wicket tally with 17 wickets from nine matches. Despite his impressive performances, he has yet to receive a national call-up in the shortest format and was not included in the IPL 2025 mega-auction.
Future Prospects
This outstanding performance in the SA20 opener could be the catalyst for Potgieter to catch the selectors’ eye. His all-round skills make him a valuable asset for any team, and he will hope to continue impressing throughout the tournament.
With MI Cape Town ending their previous two seasons at the bottom of the table, this win marks a promising start to their campaign. The team will look to build on this momentum, while Potgieter will aim to maintain his form and push for higher recognition in the cricketing world.
