Sunrisers blaze to victory, Royals left reeling

Jordan Hermann and Anrich Nortje combined to hand the Sunrisers Eastern Cape a massive, bonus-point 137 run victory over the Paarl Royals in a one-sided Betway SA20 clash at Boland Park in Paarl on Saturday evening.

Hermann scored his third half-century as the Sunrisers posted a challenging 186 for four after Tristan Stubbs had won the toss and elected to bat first. Nortje then claimed 4-13 in three overs as the Royals succumbed to the lowest SA20 total, being bowled out for a paltry 49 inside 12 overs.

Hermann cracked five boundaries and four maximums to end unbeaten on 62 from only 28 balls, sharing in a fourth-wicket stand of 73 with Matthew Breeztke (31) from 45 balls after the visitors had lost three quick wickets.

Hermann’s presence at the crease was a joy to watch as he and Breetzke, who struck two fours and a six from 23 balls, rescued the Sunrisers somewhat after the former champions had lost three wickets for 23 runs in three overs.

Quinton de Kock (42) and Jonny Bairstow (31) had given the Sunrisers a solid start with an opening stand of 66 from 53 balls with De Kock striking three fours and two sixes from 24 balls while Bairstow was more circumspect, striking five fours from 33 balls.

Bairstow was first to go, caught by David Miller at wide mid-on from the bowling of Ottneil Baartman (4-0-40-2). Marco Jansen (8) lasted just 11 balls before being castled by Bjorn Fortuin (4-0-32-1) before De Kock holed out to Lhuan-dre Pretorius on the mid-wicket fence from the seam of Delano Potgieter (4-0-38-1).

In reply, the Royals never ever found their rhythm as wickets tumbled faster than a raging waterfall. Jansen (3-0-15-1) started the proceedings by claiming the big wicket of Pretorius, caught behind by De Kock. Pretorius immediately sent the decision upstairs but a feather from the bottom edge of his bat confirmed the umpire’s decision.

New Zealander Adam Milne (2-0-7-2) then claimed the wickets of Sri Lankan Vishen Halambage for just five and Rubin Hermann for a duck. Kyle Verreynne managed one boundary but found Stubbs on the mid-wicket fence for just 11 from the bowling of Senuran Muthusamy (1-0-3-1).

The young Asa Tribe (14) top-scored, striking two fours but found Muthusamy on the deep backward square-leg fence from a short ball from Nortje. Nortje used his pace brilliantly, castling Potgieter for four from 13 balls.

Nortje’s short balls caused a lot of problems and both Fortuin (1) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (0) found De Kock’s gloves behind the stumps. Tharindu Ratanayake (2.5-0-9-2) finished off the match, having Miller caught by Hermann at mid-wicket and clean-bowling Nqobani Mokoena for a duck.

PAARL ROYALS: Vishen Halambage, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Asa Tribe, Rubin Hermann, Kyle Verreynne (wk), David Miller (capt), Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nqobani Mokoena, Ottneil Baartman.

SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: Jonny Bairstow, Quinton de Kock (wk), Matthew Breetzke, Jordan Hermann, Tristan Stubbs (capt), Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Adam Milne, Tharindu Ratnayake, Lewis Gregory.