Aiden Markram hit a sparkling century as the Sunrisers Eastern Cape booked their place in the Betway SA20 final after a 14-run victory against the Joburg Super Kings at Centurion on Thursday.
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape will meet the Pretoria Capitals in Saturday's Betway SA20 final at the Wanderers.
Chasing a record 214 to win, the Joburg Super Kings got off to the worst possible start as they lost opener and captain Faf du Plessis.
TERRIBLE START
Sisanda Magala took the new ball with Du Plessis going hard on the opening delivery but was easily caught in the deep to depart for a golden duck.
Leus du Plooy, who scored a match-winning half-century in the previous game, chipped it straight to backward point off the bowling of Marco Jansen for a duck.
Gerald Coetzee, who was promoted up the order as a pinch hitter, shared a 52-run stand with Reeza Hendricks before Coetzee was dismissed for 12, stumped off the bowling of Roelof van der Merwe.
??? "I never really thought I'd get to the three figures batting at four, I didn't believe it could happen."
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) February 9, 2023
Man of the Match Aiden Markram reacts to leading his side to a spot in the #Betway #SA20 final.
Matthew Wade attempted to hit a six but mistimed a slow delivery from Brydon Carse to depart for 19.
Van der Merwe took his second as Donovan Ferreira top-edged to the fielder and walked back after a handy 20 off nine balls.
DOWN TO THE LAST OVER
A 61-run partnership between Hendricks and Romario Shepherd gave the Joburg Super Kings a glimmer of hope.
Needing 26 off the last over, Hendricks fell to Ottniel Baartman as he departed for a heroic 96 off 54 balls (hitting 11 fours and four sixes).
Shepherd remained unbeaten on 38 as the Joburg Super Kings fell short by 14 runs.
After being sent to bat first, Markram's smashed a century as Sunrisers Eastern Cape posted a record 213-5.
Pacer Lizaad Williams struck twice as he got Temba Bavuma caught at slip with a mean awkward bounce off the glove to send the Proteas white-ball captain out for a golden duck.
Saturday's #Betway #SA20 final is locked in ??
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) February 9, 2023
Who's leaving with the trophy? ?? pic.twitter.com/j6F8jNSHms
Opener Adam Rossington tried to drive but got an edge behind to the wicketkeeper Wade for six.
BIG PARTNERSHIP
A 99-run partnership between skipper Markram and Jordan Hermann stabilised proceedings putting the Sunrisers back on track after the loss of the early wickets.
A run-out ended the second-wicket stand as Hermann called for two runs, but an excellent throw from Williams saw Wade break the bails.
Hermann fell for a well-played 48 off 36 balls (hitting five fours and a six).
The Sunrisers kept on the momentum despite Hermann's wicket as Markram and Tristan Stubbs kept picking up boundaries and ticking the scoreboard.
Markram and Stubbs shared a 75-run partnership before Williams struck twice in the penultimate over of the innings.
Markram brought up his century with a maximum but fell the next delivery as he was caught in the deep for 100 off 58 balls (hitting six fours and six sixes).
Shortly after that, Stubbs tried to go big off the bowling of Williams but was caught at deep midwicket for 20 off 11 balls.
Jordan Cox remained unbeaten on 18, and Marco Jansen was on six not out as Eastern Cape posted 213-5.
Williams was the pick of the Joburg Super Kings bowling attack, ending on four for 36.
The Joburg Super Kings require a record 214 to reach the SA20 final, potentially meeting the Pretoria Capitals.
JOBURG SUPER KINGS (STARTING XI): Faf du Plessis (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Wade, Donovan Ferreira, Leus du Plooy, Romario Shepherd, Sibonelo Makhanya, Gerald Coetzee, Kyle Simmonds, Lizaad Williams, Maheesh Theekshana
SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE (STARTING XI): Aiden Markram (captain), Adam Rossington, Jordan Hermann, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Roelof van der Merwe, Sisanda Magala, Ottniel Baartman