Half-centuries by man of the match Jon Jon Smuts and Nicholas Pooran were the catalyst for Durban’s Suoer Giants to record their second win in as many matches when they overcame the Sunrisers Eastern Cape by 35 runs in Gqeberha on Saturday.
The pair were relentless, smashing the ill-disciplined Sunrisers bowling attack to tall parts as they recorded a century stand for the third wicket to help propel their side to 225/3 after 20 overs.
Chasing a mammoth 226 for victory, 65 off 38 balls by Tom Abell, who shared 93 with Aiden Markram, and 55 off 26 by Tristan Stubbs were not enough as the hosts were restricted to 190/9 in their 20 overs.
Thought we'd let you rest after that first inning? 🚫 We're just getting started! 😉#Betway #SA20 #WelcomeToIncredible #SECvDSG pic.twitter.com/UYBAelabuK
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 13, 2024
The home side lost two wickets in the space of three overs as Adam Rossington (9) fell trying to clear the ropes but was caught by Dwaine Pretorius off Richard Gleeson while Jordan Hermann fell for three, caught by Keshav Maharaj off Reece Topley with the defending champions reeling on 13-2.
Tom Abell and skipper Aiden Markram then injected some energy into the innings as the duo shared 93 runs from just 52 balls as the home side went past 100 in the 12th over.
Markram scored 28 runs from 21 balls before he was bowled by Jon Jon Smuts, while Abell would reach a speedy 65 runs from 36 balls including seven boundaries and two sixes when he was caught by Heinrich Klaasen off Keshav Maharaj.
DSG goes coast to coast with back-to-back wins.#Betway #SA20 #WelcomeToIncredible #SECvDSG pic.twitter.com/A1d0E5Qwfr
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Smuts struck again, removing Marco Jansen as the Sunrisers slipped to 129/5 after 14 overs.
Beyers Swanepoel was run out for eight before the wickets of Liam Dawson (1), Tristan Stubbs (55) and Dan Worrall were the final nails in the Sunrisers' coffin.
Smuts, Richard Gleeson and Dwaine Pretorius would finish with 2/36, 2/32, and 2/19 while Keshav Maharaj and Reece Topley claimed one wicket a piece.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, DSG’s Quintin de Kock and Matthew Breetzke got the ball rolling with a 58-run opening stand before the left-hander fell for 23 off Dan Worrall.
𝐌𝐎𝐌: 𝐉𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭𝐬 🏏
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) January 13, 2024
The homeboy returns to his roots in the #Betway #SA20, and with every move on the field, he made his former team pay 🎯#WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/YO341Q6XQ4
Breetzke used his knowledge of St George’s Park to great effect as he smashed four boundaries and three sixes for his 43 before he was dismissed by Jansen, and the score on 85/2.
Smuts and Pooran then combined to take the fight to the Sunrisers' attack, smashing the ball to all parts of St George’s Park, as the right-hander recorded a half-century, eventually reaching 5 before he was out off Worrall.
Pooran then took over the mantle, bringing up a half-century of his own to finish unbeaten on 60 off 31 balls as they scored the second score of more than 200 on the first double-header weekend of the competition.
Worrall claimed 2/35 from his four overs, while Jansen claimed 1/33 from four overs.
SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: Jordan Hermann, Adam Rossington, Tom Abell, Aiden Markram (C), Tristan Stubbs, Liam Dawson, Marco Jansen, Beyers Swanepoel, Simon Harmer, Dan Worrall, Ottneil Baartman
DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS: Quinton de Kock, Reece Topley, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj (C), Keemo Paul, Jon Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Richard Gleeson