South Africa Premier League 2025

Match 1: SEC vs MICT

Preview

The SA Premier League returns for its third edition. The inaugural game, between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town, will be played at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Thursday, January 9. 

SEC has been the champion for the past two years since this tournament’s inauguration. In the previous season, they won 9 out of 12 games, topping the League stage table and remaining undefeated in the playoffs, winning both the qualifier and the final match.

The Sunrisers become better as they recover from their mistakes more quickly. With new signings such as David Bedingham, they will get some extra support, but the core team remains the same, which makes them the most invincible side in this league. 

On the contrary, MI has one of the best squads on pen and paper, but that hasn’t led to success in the last two years. Since the tournament's first edition, Cape Town has finished rock-bottom of the table, having won just three games in both editions. They will start without the service of English all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has backed out from the tournament, citing a hamstring injury while playing against New Zealand last month. 

Match Details

Match: SEC vs MICT, 1st Match, SA Premier League 2025

Date: Thursday, January 9, 2023

Time: 9:00 PM

Venue: St George's Park, Gqeberha

Pitch & Weather Report

St George’s Park generally has a slower pitch than the other grounds in South Africa. It would be helpful for the spinners, and the top-order batters have to settle down before they try out their big shots. The skipper winning the toss shall choose to bat first and post a defendable target so that the bowlers can take charge, as the ball will turn more in the second inning of the game. 

Port Elizabeth’s weather predicted for the matchday will have a maximum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 19 degrees Celsius. There is no chance of rain affecting the game. The humidity is expected to be 74%, and the wind speed will be 11 kmph. 

SEC vs. MICT Squads

SEC: Tom Abell, Okuhle Cele, David Bedingham, Ottneil Baartman, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Richard Gleeson, Simon Harmer, Jordan Hermann, Marco Jansen, Patrick Kruger, Aiden Markram (c), Craig Overton, Caleb Seleka, Andile Simelane, Daniel Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Beyers Swanepoel, Roelof van der Merwe

MICT: Chris Benjamin, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Dewald Brevis, Connor Esterhuizen, Reeza Hendricks, Colin Ingram, Thomas Kaber, Rashid Khan (c), George Linde, Tristan Luus, Azmatullah Omarzai, Dane Piedt, Delano Potgieter, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Nuwan Thushara, Rassie van der Dussen

SEC vs. MICT Probable Playing XIs

SEC: Jordan Hermann, Tom Abell, David Bedingham, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Andile Simelane, Marco Jansen, Liam Dawson, Simon Harmer, Ottneil Baartman, Craig Overton

MICT: Reeza Henricks, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Dewald Brevis, Rassie van der Dussen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Thomas Kaber, Kagiso Rabada, George Linde, Trent Boult, Nuwan Thushara

Match Prediction

The SEC is the firm favourite to win this match, especially considering its records and its opponents' capabilities. MICT has not only lost 14 out of its 20 games played combined in both seasons but has also been defeated in all four previous encounters with the Sunrisers. It will be shocking if the Rashid Khan-led side changes its fate and wins against the best SA T20 side led by Aiden Markram. 

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