Fireworks at Newlands: Sherfane Rutherford and Dewald Brevis propel Pretoria Capitals to maiden victory | Cricket News
New Year’s Eve turned into a night of fireworks for the Pretoria Capitals as they recorded their first win of SA20 Season 4 with an emphatic 85 bonus point win over MI Cape Town at Newlands on Wednesday.The Capitals accumulated an impressive 220/5 before facing the hosts for just 135, with Sherfane Rutherford putting in a sensational all-round performance on a memorable evening in Cape Town.
After being put under early pressure, the Capitals found themselves reeling at 36/3 in the Powerplay, thanks in large part to a thorough opening spell from a once again in-form Kagiso Rabada. However, Shai Hope and Wihan Lubbe stabilized the innings with a crucial fourth-wicket stand, arresting the slide with calculated aggression.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!Hope hit 45 off 30 balls while Lubbe anchored the recovery with a fluent 60 off 36, ensuring the Capitals had a platform from which to launch into the deadly overs. This platform has been exploited spectacularly by Sherfane Rutherford and Dewald Brevis.The duo unleashed a stunning onslaught, adding 86 runs in just 27 balls. Rutherford’s unbeaten 47 came off just 15 deliveries and included six towering sixes, while Brevis kept up the tempo with a quick 36 not out off 13 balls. The Capitals plundered 92 runs in the last five overs at a staggering run rate of 18.2.Rutherford’s penultimate assault on Dewald Pretorius stunned the Newlands crowd, as the West Indian smashed four consecutive sixes, part of a streak of six consecutive maximums in two overs.In response, MI Cape Town’s hopes rested largely on openers Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen, who ensured a strong start with a 60-run Powerplay stand. But once the two fell in quick succession, the chase quickly unfolded.
Survey
Who was the most notable player for Pretoria Capitals in their recent victory?
Nicholas Pooran briefly threatened to strike back, hammering Keshav Maharaj for four sixes in a row during a six-ball 25. Maharaj, however, had the last laugh, dismissing Pooran and finishing with figures of 3/28 to break the backbone of the middle order.Rutherford capped a dream evening with career-best bowling figures of 4/24 as MI Cape Town collapsed, sealing a dominant victory for the Pretoria Capitals and launching their Season 4 campaign in emphatic fashion.Brief scoresPretoria Capitals: 220 for 5 in 20 overs (Wihan Lubbe 60, Sherfane Rutherford 47 not out; Kagiso Rabada 2/48) MI Cape Town: 135 all out in 14.5 overs (Ryan Rickelton 33; Sherfane Rutherford 4/24, Keshav Maharaj 3/28)
