New Delhi. Aiden Markram-led Sunrisers Eastern Cape defended their SA20 title by defeating Keshav Maharaj-led Durban Supergiants by 89 runs on Saturday. In the match played at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, Sunrisers Eastern Cape completely controlled the match and won the title for the second consecutive time.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape batted first and scored 204 runs losing 3 wickets in 20 overs. In reply, Durban Supergiants were all out after scoring 115 runs in 17 overs. Durban’s batsmen succumbed to Marco Jansen, who took five wickets for 30 runs in four overs.
Was not seen in Durban match
Durban had a bad start to chase the huge target of 205 runs. Quinton de Kock (3) was clean bowled by Daniel Worrall. JJ Smits (1) was caught out by Jansen at the hands of Cruiser. Yansen did not even allow Bhanuka Rajapaksa to open the account and pushed Durban on the back foot by getting him caught out by Cruiser.
Matthew Bretzke (18) and Viall Mulder (38) made a partnership of 56 runs for the fourth wicket. Then Harmer got Mulder caught out by Yansen. Bartman bowled Breitzke on the very next ball. Bartman sealed Durban’s defeat when he did not allow Heinrich Klaasen to open the account and clean bowled him.
Durban Supergiants team was not seen in the match and the entire team collapsed for 115 runs in 17 overs. Marco Yansen took five wickets for Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Otneil Bartman and Daniel Worrall got two wickets each. One wicket came in the account of Simon Harmer.
Abel-Stubbs’ powerful half-century
Before this, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who came to bat, also did not have a good start. David Malan (6) was given out LBW by Reece Topley. But after this, every batsman proved his usefulness. Jordan Harman (42) and Tom Abel (55) made a 90-run partnership for the second wicket. Keshav Maharaj broke this partnership by getting Harman caught out by Clausen.
Captain Aiden Markram scored 42 runs in just 26 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes. Tristan Stubbs scored unbeaten 56 runs in 30 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes. In this way, Eastern Cape scored 204 runs after losing three wickets in 20 overs. Keshav Maharaj took two wickets for Durban. One wicket came in the account of Reece Topley.