The Sunrisers Eastern Cape will face Durban’s Super Giants in the first SA20 playoff qualifier at Newlands on Tuesday after a 44-run win against the Paarl Royals on Friday.
The Royals, meanwhile, will face either the Joburg Super Kings, MI Cape Town or Pretoria Capitals in the eliminator playoff on 7 February at the Wanderers.
The loser of the first qualifier playoff and the winner of the eliminator will battle it out in the second qualifier playoff on 8 February at the Wanderers for another chance to reach the final.
The winner of the first qualifier playoff will book their spot in the final on 10 February at Newlands.
On Friday, the Sunrisers won the toss and opted to bat first in the intense heat of the Winelands.
The defending champions adapted to the slow track, and showed great tactical awareness with the promotion of all-rounder Marco Jansen up to No 4 in the batting lineup.
It proved to be an inspired decision as the Sunrisers posted a mammoth 208-4, with Jansen leading the run spree with a career-best 71* off only 31 balls (four fours, six sixes).
He was well supported by Tom Abell (46 off 25 balls), Jordan Hermann (36 off 37) and Tristan Stubbs (22* off 10).
Jansen and Stubbs were explosive at the back end of the Sunrisers’ innings as they added 87 runs off the final 28 deliveries.
The Royals’ bowling unit had no answer to the attack as they conceded a flurry of extras during this period with Lungi Ngidi’s final over lasting 11 deliveries.
HIGHLIGHTS: Paarl Royals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SA20)
The hosts’ run chase was always going to be dependent on the start provided by their English opening pair of Jos Buttler and Jason Roy.
They went on the attack from the outset but could not sustain the challenge after Roy was caught and bowled by his compatriot Liam Dawson for 32 off 23 balls.
It was too much for Buttler to do on his own, and although he tried valiantly with 64 off 54 balls, the Royals eventually limped to 164-7.
Jansen enjoyed a good night with the ball too claiming 2-34 to go with his half-century earlier.
There were also two wickets apiece for Liam Dawson (2-27) and Beyers Swanepoel (2-37), while the competition’s leading wicket-taker Daniel Worrall (1-27) extended his tally to 14.
Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportzpics
