Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs MI Cape Town Predictions - Sunrisers to start title defence with a win

John Eastwood

Editor

Last updated: 08 Jan 2025

Add to Calendar

John Eastwood 08 Jan 2025

Share this article

Sunrisers Eastern Cape are two-time defending champions.
Sunrisers have defeated MI Cape Town in their last 4 encounters.
Ryan Rickelton is a key player for MI Cape Town after a stellar 2024.

Tristan Stubbs backed to help hosts to victory (Getty Images)

Sunrisers Eastern Cape v MI Cape Town Live StreamWatch live online at bet365 > Cricket > SA20. Register using the bet365 bonus code NEWBONUS. T&Cs apply. Watch and bet Starts in Geo-restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Over 18s only. T&Cs apply.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs MI Cape Town Predictions

With this being the opening match of the tournament, it is a tough one to pick. History is heavily in the hosts’ favour, but MI Cape Town have a very good squad with plenty of international caliber players.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs MI Cape Town Predictions
Head to Head
Sunrisers Eastern Cape Form
Sunrisers Eastern Cape Injuries & Team News
MI Cape Town Form
MI Cape Town Injuries & Team News

However, I am going on the safe side and backing the two-time defending champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape to start off with a win.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape have won their last 4 matches against MI Cape Town.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape have won the SA20 tournament for the last 2 years.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape won their last 5 matches last season.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Tristan Stubbs averaged over 60 last season.
MI Cape Town lost 7 of their last 10 matches.
MI Cape Town finished bottom of the SA20 table in 2024.
MI Cape Town’s Ryan Rickelton was the highest run scorer in the 2024 SA20.
MI Cape Town’s Ryan Rickelton scored a double century in a Test match recently.

Head to Head

Over the course of the two SA20 seasons, these two sides have met four times. The Sunrisers have won all four of those fixtures.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape Form

The Sunrisers Eastern Cape come into this third edition of the SA20 full of confidence after winning the first two tournaments in 2023 and 2024. Can they make it a hat trick of wins in 2025?

Last season, the Sunrisers won seven of their 10 league games, losing just two while there was one no result. They proceeded to reach the final and eventually beat the Durban Super Giants in that final.

The Eastern Cape side won their last five matches and while form may not count for much almost 12 months on, there will be confidence in their ranks.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape Injuries & Team News

The Sunrisers Eastern Cape once again have a superb squad from which to pick. Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Zak Crawley and David Bedingham will look to dominate on the batting front while Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer and Craig Overton all offer plenty with the ball.

MI Cape Town Form

MI Cape Town will be hoping for a far better 2025 after finishing bottom of the table in 2024. In their 10 games, the Cape Town-based outfit only managed three wins in 10 games, losing the other seven.

Considering the squad they had put together; it was a horror show for MI Cape Town. In fact, 2023 may have gone better but the Cape Town side still disappointed more than anyone.

Despite their horror showing in 2024, MI Cape Town still had two of the top six run scorers in the competition. Ryan Rickelton was the top run scorer, averaging 58 while Rassie van der Dussen enjoyed an average of over 32.

MI Cape Town Injuries & Team News

MI Cape Town is a star-studded squad with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan, Rassie van der Dussen, Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton. Unfortunately, Ben Stokes has pulled out of the tournament which means Rabada and Trent Boult will have to carry a lot of the workload.

Verdict

Sunrisers Eastern Cape v MI Cape Town

The Sunrisers EC are tipped to win at home with Tristan Stubbs to top score.

For MI Cape Town, I am backing Ryan Rickelton, the 2024 SA20 top run scorer, to start with a big knock.

Sunrisers Win

Result

@-109.89 - 4 Units

100% up to R5,000 + 50 spins

Use promo code NEWBONUS

Bet at TicTacBets

Ryan Rickelton

Best MI Cape Town Batsman

@220.00 - 1 Unit

Up to R3,000 + 300 Spins

3 Deposit Bonuses

Earn up to R3,000 in bonus funds PLUS 300 Free Spins, on your first three deposits. To get started, register and make a First Deposit *Min R10 and get 100% free up to R1,000 plus 100 free slot spins. | T&Cs apply.

Bet at Sportingbet SA

Tristan Stubbs

Best Sunrisers Batsman

@250.00 - 1 Unit

Free R50 + 150% MATCH to R1500

use promo code NEWBONUS

18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at Easybet