Cricket News

Lasith Malinga heaps praise on MICT’s openers and captain, backs misfiring youngster to come good

MI Cape Town, with a win in three outings, haven’t quite hit their stride in the SA20 yet. But early-season bumps are nothing new for this storied franchise, boasting a legacy of resilience. The tournament remains wide open, and MICT, fueled by their pedigree and determination, will be eager to roar back and reclaim their place among the contenders.

One player on whom there is a lot of spotlight is the young prodigy, Dewald Brevis, nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ for his raw power and penchant for sixes. His three single-digit scores might not have set the scoreboard ablaze, but bowling coach Lasith Malinga remains unfazed. He sees in Brevis not just audacious talent, but the tenacity and resilience to bounce back in a roar. “I am still waiting for Brevis. He is a genuine match-winner. I’m still waiting, still waiting. He’s the guy who can create a huge impact for us,” Malinga wrote in a column for MICT.

This is the first time I have seen this kind of consistent performance – Lasith Malinga about MICT

Malinga also heaped heavy praise on MICT’s openers, Rassie-van-der-Dussen and Ryan Rickelton who have been just sensational this season. The duo has destroyed bowlers in the powerplay, combining explosive hitting with consistency, which is rare. Malinga urged the youngsters of the side to take a cue or two from the two batters.

“This is the first time I am seeing this kind of consistent performance in T20s from the openers in the first six overs. I am hoping both Rassie and Ryan can do the same in future matches as well. All the youngsters watching MI Cape Town can learn how to take responsibility while batting from these two,” he wrote.

The 40-year-old also lauded the skipper of the side, Kieron Pollard with whom, he has spent plenty of years at the Mumbai Indians. According to Malinga, Pollard’s experience and composed nature have augured well for the side. “Pollard is a highly experienced player in T20s. He is a calm guy, he analyses the game well. With Mumbai Indians, he would handle the pressure situations very well while batting. He is really happy and we are very happy for him. Similarly, KG Rabada and Sam Curran are hugely experienced guys in franchise cricket. They are showing their experience here,” he added.