Season 3 of the SA20 League starts on Thursday with two-times defending Champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape taking on MI Cape Town at the St George’s Park Cricket Ground in Gqeberha. We take a closer look at the match offering some betting angles.
Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting where there are plenty of markets to get stuck into. The obvious one is the Tournament winner where the Pretoria Capitals and MI Cape Town are trading at 7/2 joint favourites ahead of the Joburg Super Kings at 4/1. Sunrisers Eastern Cape are 9/2 alongside the Durban Super Giants and Paarl Royals are 7/1.
There are plenty of other markets including Top Batsman and Bowler for each team as well as which team will hit the most sixes and which sides will play in the final.
Click here for the outright betting markets
SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE v MI CAPE TOWN.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape won 7 of their 10 group matches last season which was enough for them to top the table ahead of the Durban Super Giants. They beat the Super Giants in qualifier 1 which put them straight into the final where they played the Super Giants again winning by 89 runs.
They look to have a well-balanced squad which will captained by Aiden Markram and a scan down the squad list suggests that there are very few if any weaknesses in the side.
MI Cape Town were pre-tournament favourites last season, but they disappointed again and finished bottom of the table with 3 wins and 7 defeats in their 10 matches.
They once again have a strong side on paper with Rashid Khan the captain and they have acquired Reeza Hendricks from the Super Kings and will be hoping that Dewald Brevis can return to form. The bowling attack will be led by Kagiso Rabada.
Head-to-Head
When the sides met in Newlands last season the Sunrisers Eastern Cape won by 4 runs. They scored 202 for 2 in their 20 overs with Jordan Hermann getting a superb 106 not out off just 62 balls. MI Cape Town fell just short getting 198 for 5 with Rickelton scoring 58 off 33. Ottniel Baartman was the pick of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape bowlers with 3 for 35.
Their second match took place in Gqeberha where the Sunrisers Eastern Cape won by 4 runs once again. This time they scored 175 for 6 with Tom Abell getting 60 off 44 at the top of the order and Rabada picking up 2 for 26 for MI Cape Town. MI Cape Town finished on 171 for 7 and once again Ottniel Baartman was amongst the wickets with 2 for 24.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Sunrisers Eastern Cape 17/20
MI Cape Town 19/20
This should be a cracking match to get the Tournament started and below are a few of the markets that I am interested in.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape Top Bowler
Ottniel Baartman was their Top Bowler in both matches last season and I am expecting a big Tournament from him. He is currently priced at 33/20 ahead of Marco Jansen at 19/10. Keep an eye on Roelof Van der Merwe who is 3/1 in this market as he was the top wicket taker in the tournament in the inaugural season.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape Top Batter
Tom Abell is the favourite at 27/10 is the favourite to be the Sunrisers Eastern Cape Top Batter ahead of Aiden Markram at 11/4. Tristan Stubbs in another I expect to go well this season and he is 34/10 with David Bedingham 21/4 and I think it is Bedingham who will deliver the goods in this market.
BET: Bedingham, Top Sunrisers Eastern Cape Batter at 21/4
MI Cape Town Top Batter
Ryan Rickelton is the 39/20 favourite in the MI Cape Town Top Batter market and he had a superb season last year. Rassie Van Der Dussen and him formed a lethal opening partnership and Van der Dussen is 2/1 with Reeza Hendricks 12/5.
I would expect Rickelton and Hendricks to open with Van Der Dussen slotting in at 3. I am backing Dewald Brevis to have a return to form though and am putting the youngster up in this market at 33/4.
BET: Dewald Brevis Top MI Cape Town Batter at 33/4
There are plenty of other markets and there will also be in-running betting on the game.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
