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Ferocity and Energy send Sunrisers into final

cricket06 February 2024 21:21| © SuperSport
By:Brendon Atwell
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Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman both claimed four wickets each for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to help clinch a 51-run Betway SA20 victory over the Durban Super Giants in the first Qulifier at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday evening.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Sunrisers posted a below-par total of 157 for eight with Dawid Malan top-scoring with 63. In reply, the Super Giants were bowled out for just 106 with three balls remaining in the innings.

The victory send the Sunrisers into the final on Saturday here at Newlands while the Super Giants fly to Johannesburg to take on the winners of the Eliminator on Thursday, which is between the Paarl Royals and the Joburg Super Kings tomorrow, also at the Wanderers Stadium.

The Sunrisers’ innings was interrupted by a two-hour rain spell which did not affect the length of the match due to extra time being made available for the Qualifiers, Eliminator and Final, with their total on 61 for one.

Jordan Hermann (21) and Malan made a solid start with an opening stand of 45 by as soon as the power play was done, Keshav Maharaj (4-0-30-2) brought himself into the attack and made an immediate impact, removing Hermann, caught behind by Quinton de Kock.

Malan, who struck six boundaries and a six from 45 balls, shared in a 49-run stand for the fourth wicket with Markram (30), who himself struck one four and a six from 23 balls. But after the rain interruption, the wickets started to tumble.

Malan was caught on the square-leg fence by Naveen-ul-Haq from the bowling of Dwaine Pretorius (3-0-22-1) while Markram was caught on the mid-wicket fence by Matthew Breetzke from the bowling of Naveen (4-0-31-1).

Tristan Stubbs lasted for just 12 balls before being caught on the fence by Breetzke off Junior Dala (4-0-35-2), who then also claimed the wicket of Jansen (2).

In reply, the ferocity of the Sunrisers’ bowlers and energy of the fielders saw to it that the Super Giants would not have an easy time of chasing down 158. Daniel Worrall conceded just 11 runs in his four overs and beat the bat consistently.

The rain seemed to have added some zip to the pitch and Jansen (3.3-0-17-4) bagged the wicket of Tony de Zorzi for just 2. Breetzke was soon back in the hut, top-edging Baartman (4-1-10-4) to Stubss behind the stumps.

Markram then pulled off the catch of the season, leaping at mid-off and taking a one-handed catch from the bowling of man of the match Baartman to see the back of Jon-Jon Smuts without scoring.

De Kock (20) and Wiaan Mulder (38) tried to get the chase back on target but the Sunrisers were relentless. Mulder struck four boundaries and a six from 34 deliveries as the pair shared a stand of 44 from 43 balls but then De Kock was excellently caught and bowled by Liam Dawson (4-0-37-2), giving him his 200th T20 wicket.

Mulder was caught at deep mid-wicket from the bowling of Dawson before Pretorius edged Jansen down the legside to Stubbs behind the stumps. Heinrich Klaasen, who has had a strike-rate of over 200 this campaign, struck two sixes from 15 balls but with the rate reaching 15 to the over, edged Baartman behind to Stubbs.

The match wound down quickly as Maharaj (1), Dala (3) and Naveen (3) all fell quickly to hand victory to the men from the Eastern Cape.

TEAMS

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Jordan Hermann, Dawid Malan, Tom Abell, Aiden Markram (capt), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Patrick Kruger, Liam Dawson, Marco Jansen, Daniel Worrall, Simon Harmer, Ottniel Baartman.

Durban Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Reece Topley, Junior Dala, Neveen-ul-Haq.

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