MICT keep qualification hopes afloat with nervy win against SEC

MI Cape Town kept their qualification hopes alive with a three-wicket win over Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Needing to beat SEC twice in their remaining games, MICT restricted their opponents to a modest total on a two-paced surface but stumbled during the chase, scraping through with a narrow victory.

SEC struggled for momentum from the outset after opting to bat first. Trent Boult dismissed Quinton de Kock off the first delivery, and despite a promising start from Jonny Bairstow, he was trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada in the fourth over. Losing Matthew Breetzke in the sixth over left SEC at 37/3 after the PowerPlay.

A 45-run stand between James Coles and Marco Jansen steadied SEC, with Jansen's 23-ball 42, including three fours and four sixes, being the standout innings. However, MICT regained control at the death, dismissing both batters to derail SEC's innings. Only 32 runs came off the last five overs as SEC finished at 139/9. Corbin Bosch took 4-34, while Boult claimed 3-28.

The chase was far from straightforward for MICT. With just six runs from the first two overs, both openers fell trying to accelerate, leaving MICT at 36/2 after the PowerPlay. The game remained balanced when Senuran Muthusamy broke a 33-run partnership between Reeza Hendricks and Nicholas Pooran by dismissing Pooran in the ninth over.

Scoring remained slow, and MICT's hopes of a bonus point by chasing the target inside 16 overs dwindled. George Linde provided impetus with a six and two fours off Adam Milne in the 14th over, but his 18-ball 31 ended soon after. Hendricks anchored the chase with a 41 off 43 balls, stabilizing the innings.

With 26 needed off the last four overs and Hendricks and Kieron Pollard at the crease, victory seemed assured. However, late drama ensued as Pollard, Jason Smith, and Hendricks fell in successive overs. Defending four off the final over, Muthusamy overstepped on the second delivery, easing MICT's path to a nervy three-wicket win with four balls to spare.

Brief Scores: Sunrisers Eastern Cape 139/9 in 20 overs (Marco Jansen 42; Corbin Bosch 4-34) lost to MI Cape Town 140/7 in 19.2 overs (Reeza Hendricks 41; Marco Jansen 2-23) by 3 wickets.