MI Cape Town confident of performing better in SA20, says Jayawardene

After letting their campaign slip last year, as they ultimately settled for the wooden spin, former Sri Lanka star Mahela Jayawardene believes MI Cape Town can deliver an improved result in the second edition of the SA20 competition.

The MI Cape Town franchise were less ambitious than other teams at the player auction on Thursday night, spending R525,000 to snap up batter Chris Benjamin, fast bowler Nealan van Heerden and all-rounder Thomas Kaber.

While the Cape Town outfit were top of the log after three rounds in the inaugural SA20 series earlier this year, they finished in last place in the six-team competition.

ALSO READ: SA20 season two reveal: All the new initiatives and regulations

Jayawardene, the global head of performance for all teams owned by MI, expected them to be more consistent in the second edition of the tournament to be held in January next year.

“We had a really good squad last season. We had a few injuries, especially to our main players, but they are all going to be fully available this season, so we didn’t want to make too many changes,” Jayawardene said.

“The important thing for us is role clarity, making sure the guys fit into the roles we need them to fill, and we’re very happy with the group we’ve got. The skills set is very good and we just want to be consistent.”

Top bids

Meanwhile, all-rounders Matthew Boast and Dayaan Galiem fetched the highest bids of R1.6 million at the season two SA20 auction held in Johannesburg.

Pretoria Capitals eventually won the race to sign 20-year-old Boast, who entered the auction as a rookie, while Galiem was signed by the Joburg Super Kings.

The Joburg side splashed a further R850,000 each on Derbyshire batter Wayne Madsen and West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd.

The Capitals also signed fast bowler Daryn Dupavillon for R600,000, Ireland opening batter Paul Stirling for R425,000 and wicket-keeper/batter Kyle Verreynne for R175,000.

Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape picked up young leg-spinner Caleb Saleka and Beyers Swanepoel for R600,000 each and Paarl Royals beefed up their pace attack with Hampshire fast bowler John Turner for R425,000.

Auction results

Joburg Super Kings: Dayaan Galiem (R1.6 million), Wayne Madsen (R850 000), Romario Shepherd (R850 000), Ronan Hermann (rookie)

Pretoria Capitals: Matthew Boast (R1.6 million), Daryn Dupavillon (R600 000), Paul Stirling (R425 000), Kyle Verreynne (R175 000), Steve Stolk (rookie)

MI Cape Town: Chris Benjamin (R175 000), Nealan van Heerden (R175 000); Thomas Kaber (R175 000),  Connor Esterhuizen (rookie)

Paarl Royals: John Turner (R425 000), Lorcan Tucker (R175 000), Lhua-dre Pretorius (rookie)

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Beyers Swanepoel (R600 000), Caleb Saleka (R175 000), Andile Simelane (rookie)

Durban’s Super Giants: Jason Smith (R175 000), Bryce Parsons (rookie)