JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, CMC – West Indies pacer Odean Smith endured a bitter-sweet performance, and MI Cape Town were eliminated from playoff contention when they stumbled to a one-wicket defeat off the last ball against Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 yesterday.
Smith ended with 2-34 from his allotted four overs, but he conceded nine in the penultimate over, and the Capitals got over the line chasing 160 for victory in the 26th match of the tournament at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The result meant that Pretoria Capitals became the first team to secure their place in the semifinals, and Cape Town were all but eliminated from contention in the inaugural edition of the tournament, which ends on February 11.
With 12 needed from 12 balls, Smith kept Senuran Muthusamy scoreless off the first two balls, but the left-hander swung a short ball over the fine leg boundary for six off the third ball.
The Jamaican pacer then conceded two wides, and a hobbled Wayne Parnell scampered a single from the next ball to lower the equation to three from eight balls. Smith managed to skilfully execute the final two deliveries and did not concede a run, and Capitals needed three from the final over.
England international Sam Curran kept Cape Town in the contest until the very last ball, when Parnell and last-man Josh Little got a single to take their side to the target.
Parnell had earlier left the field after 2.1 overs with a groin injury, but the skipper courageously came out to bat at 10 to take his team over the line.
The Cape Town bowling unit had tried to keep their team in contention throughout with Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan delivering a fine spell of spin bowling, conceding only 17 in his four overs.
Curran also delivered a wholehearted performance to finish with 3-26.
The run chase for the Capitals began confidently with Sri Lanka international Kusal Mendis stroking 39 off 25 balls, but they needed a Player-of-the-Match innings from Rilee Rossouw of 40 off 19 balls and Muthusamy of 25 off 23 balls to keep up with the chase.
Rassie van der Dussen had earlier laid the platform for Cape Town with 51 off 29 balls, but the Proteas batsman did not get the support from any of his teammates.
Proteas pacer Anrich Nortje steamed in from the Pavilion End and cranked up the speed gun with a couple of his deliveries being clocked at 150 kilometres an hour.
He ended with 2-37 from his four overs, and he won his battle with Cape Town teenaged star Dewald Brevis and bowled Tim David in spectacular fashion.
Eathan Bosh finished with identical figures, and New Zealand journeyman James Neesham claimed 2-26.
Cape Town are now rooted to the basement of the standings with 13 points and need a mathematical miracle to qualify for the semifinals with only one preliminary match remaining against Joburg Super Kings tomorrow at the Wanderers.
