The Sunrisers Eastern Cape claimed back-to-back SA20 titles with an emphatic 89-run victory over Durban’s Super Giants in the final at Newlands on Saturday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Sunrisers posted 204-3 with half-centuries from Tom Abell (55 off 34 balls) and Tristan Stubbs (56* off 30).
Jordan Hermann and captain Aiden Markram both contributed 42 off 26 balls.
Partnerships were crucial in the Sunrisers’ innings with Hermann and Abell setting up the winning total with a 90-run stand for the second wicket after the early loss of Dawid Malan (six).
DSG captain Keshav Maharaj hit back with a double-wicket over by removing both set batsmen in Hermann and Abell.
But the Sunrisers showed they had plenty more in reserve with Markram and Stubbs rebuilding the innings before exploding towards the backend with 98 runs off 55 balls.
The Sunrisers’ bowling unit has been their strongest discipline all season and their seamers certainly rose to the occasion on the night.
Dan Worrall (2-15) set the tone upfront again with the dismissal of Quinton de Kock early on before Marco Jansen delivered two hammer blows in the fourth over with the removal of Jon-Jon Smuts and Bhanuka Rajapaksa to leave the Super Giants reeling at 7-3.
Wiaan Mulder attempted a recovery job with quickfire 38, but that’s when Ottniel Baartman (2-17) delivered the moment of the match.
He had already dismissed Matthew Breetzke, but it was his in-swinger that wrapped the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen on the pads first ball that closed the game as a contest.
DSG were on the ropes at 63-5 which left the door open for Jansen (5-30) to come charging through and finish off the Super Giants tail to complete the back-to-back triumphs.
It was a poignant moment for Jansen after he struck the six last season that won the inaugural SA20 title.
Photo: Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics
