Mujahid Behardien played a remarkable solo hand for Rylands at the top of the order, striking eight sixes and a four in his 81 off 49 balls – the rest of the team plus extras could not manage 50 runs between them.
Cape Town seamer Nicholas Scott was his side’s best bowler of the match, castling two top-order batters while conceding just twelve from his four overs.
Opening bowler Darren Rolfe also struck in each of his two spells, though like several of his teammates suffered somewhat at the hands of Mujahid Behardien.
New addition Kieron Adams recovered from an early mauling to claim his first two scalps for the Cape Town First XI, finishing decently with 2-11 from his closing two overs.
Opening bat Mathew Goles gave Cape Town a great start to their run chase, striking three sixes in an over as he raced to 28 inside the first Powerplay.
Christiaan Oberholzer also produced an energetic knock of 38, which left Cape Town seemingly well-placed for victory with 21 needed from the last four overs with six wickets in hand.
Kyle Schreuder also produced an enterprising 22 from 20 balls in the middle order, setting Cape Town up for what looked like a competition-opening win.
However, first-change seamer Mohammed Rahman returned from a disastrous first over to knock over both Christiaan Oberholzer and Kyle Schreuder in successive overs, turning the tide in Rylands’s favour.
Rylands opening bowler Ehtisham Rasool then struck twice more in the next over from that end as well to finish with 3-15, and Cape Town’s challenge dissipated disappointingly in the face of losing four for twelve in the final four overs.
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