(Cricket news) The defending champions of the SA20, Sunrisers Eastern Cape became the first team to reach the finals of the 2nd edition of the tournament. Sunrisers registered a commanding win over the Durban Super Giants in the 1st Qualifier to ensure a spot in the Finals.
Sunrisers defeated the Super Giants quite convincingly by 51 runs. Electing to bat SEC got off to good start, before loosing two quick wickets in the form of Hermann and Abell which reduced them to 61/2 inside 9 overs. Aiden Markram the skipper then joined hands with Malan and stitched a valuable 49-run partnership to steady the innings.
However post Malan’s dismissal none of the other batters were able to make an impact as the defending champions saw a collapse loosing their next 6 wickets for just 41 runs. Sunrisers only managed 47 runs from the final six overs and set up a target of 158 for the Super giants.
Chasing not a very big total, Super Giants had the worst possible start. They lost their first 3 wickets for just 13 runs and were reduced to 13/3 in 4 overs. Quinton De Cock then along with Mulder tried to bail their team out of trouble, but did not manage to go on for long. Their 44-run stand was broken when De Cock was dismissed by Dawson.
Although Klaasen struck some maximums, but post De Cock’s wicket it was a one-way traffic for the Sunrisers. SEC managed to take wickets at regular intervals and when Baartman got the wicket of Klaasen, it was all done and dusted for the Super Giants. They lost their last 6 wickets for just 25 runs and were all out for 106 runs, handing Sunrisers a spot in the Finals.
Brief scores: Sunrisers Eastern Cape157/8 in 20 overs (Dawid Malan 63, Aiden Markram 30; Keshav Maharaj 2/30) Durban Super Giants 106 in 19.3 overs (Wiaan Mulder 38; Ottniel Baartman 4/10, Marco Jansen 4/16); SEC win by 51 runs
