Linde, Reeza star as MI Cape Town down Paarl Royals in SA20 derby at Newlands

MI Cape Town produced a stellar bowling effort to defeat Paarl Royals by 33 runs in their SA20 Cape derby at Newlands on Monday.

Chasing 173 runs to win in front of a packed Newlands crowd, wickets continued to tumble for Paarl Royals, who faltered and were restricted to 138-9.

It was a stuttering run chase from theRoyals as the MI Cape Town bowling attack took wickets at regular intervals.

Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada impressed for MI Cape Town as he dismissed openers Joe Root (26) and 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius (26 off 12) to end on two for 22.

English batter Sam Hain made 20 but was bowled by captain Rashid Khan, and once again, the target seemed out of reach for Paarl Royals.

Proteas spinning all-rounder George Linde showed how impactful he can be as he took three for 15 in his four overs, including the crucial wicket of captain David Miller (1).

Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the only resistance for Paarl Royals, smashing a four and three sixes to hit a 20-ball 34 before he was bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai.

Kwena Maphaka made 22 not out as he ensured that Paarl Royals were not bundled out in their 20 overs.

Earlier, opener Reeza Hendricks returned to form as his half-century propelled MI Cape Town to 172-7.

The hosts lost the early wicket of Ryan Rickelton, who played his first SA20 game since his Test double century at Newlands last week, as he was caught off the bowling of Bjorn Fortuin for 8.

A 79-run stand between Rassie van der Dussen and Hendricks got MI Cape Town back on track but there run was cut short by Dayyaan Galiem as Van der Dussen departed for 43 off 33 balls (hitting three fours and two sixes).

Hendricks brought up his fourth SA20 fifty as he ended on 59 off 37 balls (hitting eight fours and a six) before he