SA20 2023: Dewald Brevis' stunning assault help MI Cape Town rout Paarl Royals in Newlands
Brevis was named the player of the match for his explosive 70 off 41 deliveries that sealed the victory and a bonus point for his side.
Mi Cape Town dished out a clinical performance to down the Paarl Royals in the curtain-raiser fixture of the SA20 2023 at the Newlands in Cape Town. The MI bowlers restricted their opponents to a par total thanks to the brilliance of Jofra Archer before Dewald Brevis showcased his exceptional batting prowess to complete a routine victory against the Paarl Royals.
Chasing a par total on a tricky surface, the MI batters made a sedated start to their innings. However, the siege lasted just a couple of overs as Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton started opening their shoulders. The explosive duo added 90 runs for the opening wicket in just over ten overs, providing a flying start to the Men in Blue.
Brevis, 19, who has already made quite a reputation of being a power-hitter, registered a rollicking half-century. Despite Rickelton's dismissal, Rashid's men kept their foot on the accelerator with their eyes set on a bonus point if they chased the target inside 16 overs. Brevis' belligerent hitting brought his side to within touching distance of the bonus point, which they did seize after Rassie van der Dussen's finishing touches.
Jofra Archer restricts the Paarl Royals to a par total
Rashid Khan, leading the MI Cape Town in the tournament, won the toss and elected to field first on a surface that had a fair bit of assistance for the bowlers. His decision turned out to be a masterstroke as the returning English pacer Jofra Archer set the tone with a wicket maiden. Although the dangerous Jos Buttler dropped his anchor from one end, Rashid's bowlers kept chipping at the wickets, placing a stranglehold on the Royals.
Buttler's brisk partnership with the Royals skipper David Miller resurrected their innings, but despite Miller and former England skipper Eoin Morgan's best efforts, they finished with a par total of 142 runs. Jofra Archer was the star of the show with the ball as he scalped three wickets in his four overs in a memorable return to competitive cricket following a treacherous 2022.
Here is how Twitter reacted to MI Cape Town's resounding victory after Dewald Brevis' stunning innings:
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