The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
So that will be all from this contest but there's more riveting action in store. The aforementioned Capitals and Super Kings are in action at Supersport Park in Centurion. You can follow our coverage of that contest right here on Sportskeeda. For now though, this is the duo of Pradeep and Sooryanarayanan taking your leave. Thank you so much for joining us as we hope to see you around again soon. Take care and buh-bye for now!
The Sunrisers are back to winning ways and have taken a step closer towards securing a spot in the knockouts. They will want to break into that top two though to have a second shot at making the final. As for MI Cape Town, they continue to scramble in the lower half of the table and with the Pretoria Capitals and the Joburg Super Kings breathing down their neck, life hasn't gotten any easier for Kieron Pollard's men who have now lost five out of seven.
Tom Abell is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: Obviously nice to contribute, got stuck at the start but found my way and then helped post a competitive total, with the attack that we got, we backed ourselves to defend it. When they were taking the pace off, it was difficult, they bowled into the wicket, lots of cutter. That partnership between Markram and Stubsy saw us to propel us to a good score, bowlers executed their plans. The heart was going a bit, the bowlers soaked in the pressure, hats off to them and helped us get over the line. I was fortunate enough to be here last season, unbelievable group of guys, helps when you win games and hopefully we can keep it that way. Unbelievable atmosphere, they were singing and were behind us during that middle period.
Aiden Markram (Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain): It's not great Pommie, I said after previous, we always find ourselves in close batters, but very grateful we came on the right side of the game and put up a spectacle to watch. I thought it was a good score, they bowled pretty bowl in the powerplay and the middle, we needed to take risks and bowled well, made it quite tough, it was just above the par, the score. Tom played really well, fantastic player of spin, he's got quite a lot options against spin, allowed myself to find form as well and probably would've loved to be there in the end. Stubbs comes out, his power and he's in really good form, he's looking apart this season. Look we needed one more over, threw myself, told him to keep it wide and bowl cutters, would be a good option but he went for a few at the start but then come back very well.
Kieron Pollard (MI Cape Town captain): (Where does he think they lost the game?) When we were fielding (laughs). To be honest cricket is a game of small margins. When you look at our fielding performance and you look at the opposition's fielding performance...the guys were scrapping it out there. It is something we can control. Second time in an away game that they (opposition) showed how to field. They had twenty twos when we were fielding and when they were fielding they were off the ropes. If you want to win matches and championships you have to make sure you do well in all aspects. When you lose the close ones and you go back and see where you could have saved those couple of runs, that's when it's disappointing. We have three more games to go. We have to pick ourselves up and do it pretty quickly.
Time for the presentation...
Match Summary: Sunrisers Eastern Cape beat MI Cape Town by 4 runs.
Tom Abell 60 (44) | Ottniel Baartman 2/24 (4) Sam Curran 30 (21) | Kagiso Rabada 2/26 (3)
Oh this tournament is something else! Yet another full house and yet another humdinger. The Sunrisers fell agonizingly short a couple of nights ago but this time around, they come out on the right side of the result as they hold their nerve in spectacular fashion to make it two in two against MI Cape Town for the season.
The visitors got off to the worst possible start as Rassie van der Dussen was caught short thanks to a sharp throw by Tom Abell. In pursuit of 176, it was important for someone to make the powerplay count and the in-form Ryan Rickelton did just that. But as it turned out, it was a case of numerous starts not being converted into big scores and that hurt the team in the end.
Rickelton was sent packing in the final over of the powerplay as Marco Jansen bounced him out. Sam Curran joined the promoted Liam Livingstone and with both batters striking the ball beautifully, MI Cape Town kept the momentum going to thwart the Sunrisers attack. The strategic timeout was followed by a vital breakthrough although off an innocuous delivery as Livingstone perished to a wide full toss. Liam Dawson then smartly fired one down the leg-side to have Curran stumped and that's when the Sunrisers pulled things back in their favor, sending the asking rate up in the process.
Skipper Kieron Pollard was then left to produce the dream finish but with his timing not quite there, it was a struggle for him. Dewald Brevis played some exhilarating shots and produced a pivotal cameo but Baartman was sensational with his execution in the death overs, leaving Daniel Worrall 18 runs to defend off the final over. Delano Potgieter failed to make a mark but George Linde brought the contest to life with a couple of superb hits. Once Pollard was run out though, it came down to six needed off the last ball and Thomas Kaber failed to launch the ball out of the park, sparking off celebrations in the stands amongst the fans of the Sunrisers, who consolidate their spot at number 3 on the table, even as MI Cape Town's qualification hopes take a further dent.
They've won by four runs again! Much like the first leg! The Orange Army erupts in the stands as Worrall holds his nerve and emerges a hero. What a fabulous contest we've witnessed!
20
overs
171/7score
W
6
4
1
1W
1
runs
Thomas Kaber*
1(1)
George Linde
11(3)
Daniel Worrall
1/32
19.6 Daniel Worrall to Thomas Kaber, THAT'S IT! Sunrisers Eastern Cape hold their nerve. What a thriller of a contest we've been served with, went down to the wire. Length delivery outside the off-stump, Kaber doesn't quite get hold of it as he launched it in the air towards long-off, falls safely as MICT go down by just 4 runs.
Kaber's chance to be a hero here. 6 needed off the last ball...
Thomas Kaber, RHB, comes to the crease
Pollard remains on the floor. That's a giveaway methinks...and he's walking off! The replays show just why - he's a yard short and the crowd erupts. This could be the game-clincher for the defending champions! My goodness what a game this has been! Oh and due credit to Jansen for what was an inch-perfect throw!
19.5 Daniel Worrall to Kieron Pollard, RUN-OUT! OH! Did Pollard make it back in time? Looks a goner from the outside edge. Too full outside the off-stump, Pollard can't connect it big, whips it to deep mid-wicket, they finish the single and the second was never there as Pollard sprints across and puts in the dive.
Replays confirmed that, the throw comes right over the stumps and Stubbs removes the bails off in a flash. Pollard is a yard short and has to go!
Kieron Pollard run out (Marco Jansen/Tristan Stubbs) 30 (24b, 3x4, 0x6)
7 needed off 2...
Dragged his length back this time did Worrall. 'SUNRISERS! SUNRISERS!' is the chant around the ground even as Markram has a word with his bowler.
19.4 Daniel Worrall to George Linde, slower one, back of a length and keeps it wide of off-stump. Linde had to reach to cut, but gets the toe end to deep covers for just one.
8 needed off 3...
The volume is starting to come down at St. George's Park! Linde has come out of nowhere and has taken the attack to the opposition. Surely, backward point has to stay back by the fence if the plan is to go wide of off stump?
19.3 Daniel Worrall to George Linde, FOUR MORE! Linde turning it on for MICT here. Wide yorker, almost outside the tramline. Linde had to stretch but gets enough bat on it, squeezes it through backward point and beats the diving sweeper in the end for a crucial boundary.