A superb century from Jordan Hermann and some impressive bowling from Ottneil Baartman helped the Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinch a thrilling four-run win over Mumbai Indians Cape Town in their SA20 clash at Newlands on Tuesday night.
Hermann carried his bat through his side’s innings and finished unbeaten on 106 off 62 balls, smashing eight fours and six sixes, to help the Sunrisers to a score of 202/2 after their captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bat first.
MI CT were then well on their way to a good win after a 108-run opening partnership between Ryan Rickelton, 58 off 33 balls (2x4, 5x6) and Rassie van der Dussen, 41 off 28 (3x4, 2x6) in under 10 overs, before Baartman sparked a mini collapse with three quick wickets before defending 15 off the final over as the hosts ended on 198/5.
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape get their first win of the season 👏
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Jordan Hermann and Ottniel Baartman guide the holders to victory in Cape Town 🟠#WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/BZVnPKr0yA
The MI CT chase got off to a strong start as 26 came off the first three overs, before Rickelton cracked two sixes in the fourth from Marco Jansen with 16 coming off it, followed by a four and six from Rickelton in the fifth from Daniel Worrall as 13 came off it.
This helped them finish the powerplay in a strong position on 64/0, with Rickelton and Van Der Dussen continuing their onslaught.
Rickelton reached his fifty in style with his fifth sixth in the eighth over, hammering Liam Dawson over long on, while Van Der Dussen powered a six back over Baartman’s head in the 10th over to bring up the team's hundred.
But just a few balls later Baartman made the massive breakthrough as he had Rickelton caught by Markram at long on with the score 108/1.
This sparked a mini collapse that saw four wickets fall for 16 runs in 18 balls as Van Der Dussen was caught at long on by Patrick Kruger off Dawson, while Baartman had Dewald Brevis (8) caught at deep fine leg and then had Liam Livingstone (2) chopping on, leaving them on 124/4 in the 13th over.
This brought Kieron Pollard, 24 off 19 (1x4, 2x6), in to join Sam Curran, 37no off 22 (2x4, 3x6), and they set about reviving their team’s chances with a 53-run partnership.
But after Pollard was caught by Marco Jansen at long on off Worrall at the start of the 19th over it left his side with too much to do as despite Connor Esterhuizen (11* off six) hitting the first ball of the final over for six, Baartman pulled it back to secure the win.
One of the most balanced wagon wheels you are ever likely to see 🤩
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HERMANN HUNDRED
In the Sunrisers' innings it was a fantastic 138-run opening stand between Hermann and Dawid Malan 53 off 37 balls (4x4, 3x6) that set their side on their way to a defendable total.
It was a steady start with 20 coming off the first three overs, before they took aim at the fourth bowled by Livingstone as Malan hit a four and Hermann cracked a four and a six with 15 runs flowing off it.
They continued batting positively and moved to 53/0 by the end of the powerplay, before MI CT hit back with a couple of quiet overs.
The visitors though powered to the halfway mark as Hermann unleashed to bring up his half century as the team reached 96/0 after 10 overs.
After 12 runs came off the 11th over, Hermann again stepped up in the 12th, pumping three sixes and a four off Livingstone as 22 came off it, which meant 65 runs had come off the previous four overs and the Sunrisers were sitting pretty on 130/0.
In the 13th over a boundary from Malan off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada saw him reach his fifty, but MI CT captain Pollard introduced himself into the attack in the next over and immediately made the breakthrough, catching Malan off his own bowling and only conceding three runs.
New man Markram (19 off 13) crunched a six back over bowler Curran’s head at the end of the 15th over to bring up the Sunrisers' 150, but in the next over Pollard again struck, having Markram caught off a leading edge by George Linde at point.
The closing overs saw MI CT pull the game back slightly with a few tight overs, led by Pollard who finished with top figures of 2-22 off three overs.
But the final over from Curran saw Hermann reach a fantastic century with a pull to the leg side for two, while a lap for two a few balls later brought up the team's 200.
MI CAPE TOWN: Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Dewald Brevis, Connor Esterhuizen, Liam Livingstone, Kieron Pollard (c), Sam Curran, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Beuran Hendricks, Olly Stone
SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: Jordan Hermann, Dawid Malan, Tom Abell, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Liam Dawson, Marco Jansen, Patrick Kruger, Simon Harmer, Dan Worrall, Ottneil Baartman