Magnificent bowling and fielding from the Sunrisers Eastern Cape set up an emphatic six-wicket victory against the Durban Super Giants in their SA20 match at St.George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday afternoon.
The Super Giants recovered from 61-7 to post a meagre 115-8 after choosing to bat first but a rampant 39 from 20 balls by Sunrisers opener David Bedingham laid the platform for victory and, despite losing four wickets in pursuit of a bonus point, the home side romped to victory at 117-4 in 15.2 overs to gain the extra point with four balls to spare.
Sunrisers captain Aiden Markram lashed a pair of fours and sixes in his unbeaten 31 from 20 balls, including a hooked six out of the ground against Junior Dala to end the game and continue a stunning change in fortunes for the defending champions who began the defence of their title with three defeats.
That six though! 🤯 Aiden Markram seals the W in the most epic way possible. @Betway_za Moment of the Match? No question. 👑#BetwaySA20 #SECvDSG #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/TDpDErtLsq
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 19, 2025
Marco Jansen (4-0-23-2) and English paceman Richard Gleeson (4-0-19-2) claimed two wickets apiece in the Power Play to reduce the visitors to a dismal 18-4 after six overs and they never came close to a recovery.
Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, never the fastest scorer, was forced to adopt ‘test mode’, crawling to four from his first 15 balls and 29 from 35 before finally cutting loose with two extra-cover driven boundaries off Jansen to reach 44 from 45 balls with only three fours.
But when he heaved Ottneil Baartman (2-30) into the deep he was, amazingly, the only batter in the innings to reach double figures apart from number 10 Naveen-ul-Haq who included two ‘reverse ramps’ against Baartman and a straight six in his career best 30 not out from only 15 balls.
Wickets tumbled throughout the innings with English left-arm spinner Liam Dawson claiming 2-11 from his four overs and also grabbing an exceptional, one-handed catch at extra cover to dismiss Jon Jon Smuts (2).
Liam Dawson's catch was so good, even Quinton de Kock couldn't believe it 🤯#BetwaySA20 #SECvDSG #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/P8KtXJ1fsc
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 19, 2025
The carnage began immediately with opener Brandon King (0) edging the second ball from Jansen to Simon Harmer at slip and fellow opener Matthew Breetzke (2) bottom-edging a hoick against the same bowler onto his stumps.
Quinton de Kock (4) top-edged a pull against Gleeson to ‘keeper Tristan Stubbs and Smuts was followed by Wiaan Mulder (7) to drove Dawson to long on.
Heinrich Klaasen (8) bizarrely batted at No 7 and quickly departed in similar fashion.
A second consecutive bonus-point victory sees the Sunrisers leap from the bottom of the log to joint-third alongside the Joburg Super Kings on 10 points while the Super Giants are now four points adrift at the bottom with just one win and six points from their five matches.
SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: David Bedingham, Zak Crawley, Tom Abell, Aiden Markram (capt), Jordan Hermann, Tristan Stubbs (wkt), Marco Jansen, Liam Dawson, Simon Harmer, Ottneil Baartman, Richard Gleeson.
DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS: Matthew Breetzke, Brandon King, Kane Williamson, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj (capt), JJ Smuts, Junior Dala, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq.