The SA20 2025 season began with a surprising result as defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape suffered a humiliating 97-run defeat against MI Cape Town at St George’s Park, Gqeberha. This was not just an ordinary loss but one that etched several records, marking it as one of the most one-sided contests in the tournament’s history.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s batting collapse and record lows
Chasing a challenging target of 175, the Sunrisers’ batting lineup crumbled spectacularly, folding for just 77 runs in 15 overs. This marked their lowest-ever total in SA20 history, surpassing their previous low of 122/9 against Pretoria Capitals in the 2024 season. It also became the second-lowest team total in the tournament’s three-year history.
The collapse was spearheaded by Delano Potgieter, who bowled a dream spell, taking a sensational 5/10, the second-best bowling figures in SA20 history, leaving the Sunrisers in tatters. Only Aiden Markram showed some resistance with a modest 19 runs, while the rest of the batting order failed to cross double digits. Trent Boult added to the misery with a fiery spell of 2/16, including the back-to-back dismissals of English duo Zak Crawley (12) and Tom Abell (0), further dampening Sunrisers’ hopes early in the chase.
MI Cape Town’s recovery and key contributions
MI Cape Town showcased resilience after a shaky start to their innings, recovering from 42/3 inside the powerplay to post a formidable total of 174/7. The recovery was anchored by the ever-reliable Dewald Brevis, who scored a well-compiled 57, steering the innings with composure and attacking intent. His effort was complemented by useful contributions from the middle order, ensuring the team had a defendable total on the board.
For Sunrisers, the bowlers put up a commendable effort early in the innings, with Richard Gleeson picking up 2/22 and Liam Dawson providing economical support with figures of 1/32. However, the inability to capitalize on their early breakthroughs proved costly as Cape Town’s batters clawed their way back into the game.
Also READ: Delano Potgieter wreaks havoc as MI Cape Town crush Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 2025 opener
SA20’s unique points system
The emphatic margin of victory not only earned MI Cape Town the standard four points for a win but also a bonus point, taking their tally to five points. This unique feature of SA20, introduced in its inaugural season in 2023, rewards teams that dominate their opposition by achieving a run rate 1.25 times higher than their opponents’ run rate. The bonus point system incentivizes aggressive cricket and ensures teams aim for comprehensive victories, making every match more competitive.
In case of a tie or no result, both teams are awarded two points each, while the losing team receives no points. Unlike other T20 leagues, where victories yield a uniform number of points, SA20’s bonus-point system adds an extra layer of strategy and competition. For MI Cape Town, this bonus-point win is a testament to their commanding performance, and for Sunrisers Eastern Cape, it marks a new low as they conceded a bonus point for the first time in three seasons, highlighting the extent of their defeat.
First time in 3 seasons Sunrisers Eastern Cape conceded a bonus point to opposition, first one sided game in 3 seasons.
— Harishwar Reddy (@ReddyMnc16) January 9, 2025
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