Brief Scores: Paarl Royals 142/7 (20 overs), Jos Buttler - 51, Jofra Archer 3-27 lost to MI Cape Town 143/2 (15.3 overs), Dewald Brevis - 70*, Ramon Simmonds - 1/32 by 8 wickets.

Jofra Archer's three-wicket haul on comeback coupled with Dewald Brevis' unbeaten 70 guided MI Cape Town to an 8-wicket win over Paarl Royals in the SA20 opener on Tuesday.

Earlier, MICT captain Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to field at the Newlands cricket ground in Cape Town. Despite getting off to a slow start, Jos Buttler led the charge on a tricky-looking pitch with his delightful shot-making as the Royals finished the Powerplay at 41/1. Along with Jason Roy at the other end, he added a crucial 36-run partnership for the second wicket and helped consolidate at the top. Roy departed soon after, followed by Dane Vilas but Buttler held the fort at one end.

The Jos-Miller Show

He was then joined by the Royals skipper David Miller, who took his time to get off the mark after a couple of early blows. But once he was set, the 12th over saw him smashing a hat-trick of boundaries off Olly Stone. The duo kept the scoreboard ticking with their attacking strokeplay and stitched a 48-run stand that took the Royals past the 100-run mark by the 15th over. 

Buttler fell at the start of the 16th, but Miller ensured there was no drop in momentum as he continued to attack. By the time he was dismissed in the penultimate over, the skipper had raced away to a 31-ball 42 with four fours and a six and the Royals looked set for a competitive total. Eoin Morgan too played a short cameo (19 off 15 balls) that saw him collecting two boundaries to end the Royals' innings.

Brevis steals the thunder

143 looked like a challenging target, especially on a wicket where the ball was gripping and stopping. But Dewald Brevis had other plans. Opening the innings alongside Ryan Rickelton, Brevis put up an exhibition of his batting skills and quickly put his team in the driver's seat with his knock. The first wicket only fell after the 10th over, after the openers put up a commanding 90-run stand. Left-arm pacer Ramon Simmonds got the first breakthrough for the Royals, cleaning up Rickelton with a fiery yorker after the batter had hit a six off his previous delivery. 

Rickelton's dismissal didn't make much of a difference to MICT, who looked well on course to wrap up the chase earlier than 20 overs. For them to claim that additional bonus point, they needed to finish the game within 16 overs. With Brevis in fine form and Sam Curran for company at the other end, they had little trouble doing so.

Way forward

It wasn't the result Miller & co. would've expected to start the tournament with. But in two days' time, they will hope to turn things in their favour at their home ground - the Boland Park in Paarl - where they host the Joburg Super Kings in their first home game of the season.