While the Durban Super Giants spinners were ineffective, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s slow men took a firm grip in the SAT20 match at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, as the home side romped to a 124-run bonus-point win to move into second place on the log.
Set a mammoth 211 to win, it was veteran offspinner Roelof van der Merwe who wielded a magic wand in claiming 6-20 in his four overs, a career best T20 effort, as he twice found himself on a hat-trick in restricting the Super Giants to 86 all out in another poor batting display.
With the first two balls of his first over, the seventh of the innings, he sent the in-form Heinrich Klaasen (1) on his way for a single and next ball, trapped Super Giants captain Quinton de Kock (0) LBW as he attempted a sweep.
In the very next over, he caught and bowled Jason Holder (7) and then dismissed Kyle Mayers (11) and Dwaine Pretorius (3) in successive balls, the last of his second and first of his third overs.
Not content with five scalps, he went one better bowling Prenelen Subrayen (4) in his final over.
Roelof van der Merwe's incredible return of 6/20 has gathered the most votes to claim the Player of the Match award ??#Betway #SA20 #SECvDSG | @Betway_India pic.twitter.com/mxLFah7MQU
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 22, 2023
Fellow spinners Aiden Markram, Jon Jon Smuts and Mason Crane bagged a wicket apiece to share nine wickets between them, Wiaan Mulder’s 29 from 15 balls (4x4, 1x6) the only smitten of resistance.
The only worthwhile partnership was 30 for the second wicket between Mulder and Mayers as the Super Giants slumped from 34/2 to 86, losing eight wickets for 52 runs.
Earlier, having been asked to bat, the Sunrisers smashed a huge 210/2 on the back of a brutal 72 from 30 balls (10x4, 4x6) from Adam Rossington at the top of the order.
That's one way to make a statement - a half-century in no time ??#Betway #SA20 #SECvDSG | @Betway_India pic.twitter.com/tKFJvdiRID
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 22, 2023
Fellow opener Jordan Hermann continued to 59 from 44 balls (9x4, 1x6), his third score of 50 in nine T20 matches, and the innings was finished off by Markram with 44 not out from 34 balls (3x4, 1x6) and Tristan Stubbs 27 not out in 13 balls (1x4, 2x6).
Pretorius was the only Super Giants bowler to taste success with 1-36 in three overs as seven bowlers were used.
SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: Adam Rossington, Jordan Hermann, Sarel Erwee, JJ Smuts, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, James Fuller, Roelof van der Merwe, Mason Crane, Sisanda Magala
DURBAN'S SUPER GIANTS: Kyle Mayers, Wiaan Mulder, Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Akila Dananjaya