stgeorgesMI Cape Town clash with Paarl Royals in the Betway SA20 first qualifier at St, Georges on Tuesday and the winner will go straight into the final.

 

 

We are down to 4 teams and a reminder whoever wins this first qualifier will advance straight to the final at The Wanderers on Saturday. The loser of this game will get a second bite at the cherry against the winner of Wednesday's eliminator between the Sunrisers and JSK.

 

 

MI Cape Town

 

MI Cape Town finished top of the log at the end of the round robin stage with a record of 7 wins, 2 defeats and 1 no result. They won all 5 of their matches at Newlands by wide margins including a 33 run win over the Royals whilst their 2 defeats came away to JSK and away to the Royals in Paarl (6 wickets). Their one match staged at St. Georges saw them coast to a 97 run win over the Sunrisers in their first action of the tournament.

 

MI rested a number of the regular starters for their most recent match, a 95 run hiding of the Capitals at Newlands.

 

As far as the stats are concerned van der Dussen is top run scorer in the tournament with 330 runs in 9 matches, Rickleton is their next highest run scorer with 259 runs from 6 matches.

 

With the ball Rashid Khan has taken 9 wickets in as many games, Corbin Bosch has 8 wickets from 6 and George Line has 8 wickets from 9 matches.

 

Paarl Royals

 

Paarl Royals led the standings for much of the round robin and had a top 2 finished sealed prior to losing their last 2 matches, away to JSK (7 wickets) and the Sunrisers at this venue (48 runs). Their only other loss came against MI at Newlands and with 7 wins and 3 defeats they finished 7 points behind MI.

 

The Royals openers were in top form in the round robin with Lhuan-dre Pretorius making 323 runs in 10 games and Joe Root 279 from 8. Note Root has now left the tournament. Rubin Hermann made 250 runs from 7 outings.

 

Paarl Royals top wicket taker is Mujeeb Ur Rahman with 14 from 10 matches and Bjorn Fortuin has 10 wickets from 9 games.

 

 

The Betting

 

MI Cape Town 0.57/1

Paarl Royals 14/10

 

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Prices subject to change

 

The Verdict

 

The Royals will miss Joe Root but they do have some dangerous spinners who will need to be right on the money if they are to derail the MI Cape Town run flow from the top order. I think that will be a big ask and the betting looks about right to me although I don't get involved at the sort of price MI are trading at to win the game.

 

After much consideration including a neutral venue and a weather forecast that at the time said hot and humid I think that over 10.5 total match sixes in reachable and I will also take an interest in the ever consistent Bjorn Fortuin to be the Royals top bowler.

 

Bet:  Top Royals Bowler Bjorn Fortuin at 3.45/1 with Betway

Total Match Sixes over 10.5 at 17/20 with Betway

 

Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change