Durban
Sunrisers Eastern Cape bounced back into the tournament with a 58-run win over Durban Super Giants at Kingsmead. The defending champions were desperate for a win in their third season of the ‘SA20’ after three defeats. Aiden Markram’s team performed better with the bat following the appeal of their captain. The team won the toss and decided to bat first. England international Jack Crawley provided the early pace with 34 off 29 balls, before fellow English player Tom Abell kept the pace going in the middle order with 57 off 39 balls.
Marco Jensen, who had scored a half-century in the previous match, again performed brilliantly at the end of the match by scoring 36 not out in 26 balls. The tall all-rounder made an unbroken partnership of 24 runs in 13 balls with Tristan Stubbs (15 not out in eight balls) to take Sunrisers to 165/5. Mystery spinner Noor Ahmed was the most successful bowler for the Super Giants with figures of 4-24.
Super Giants started on a positive note with openers Bryce Parsons and Matthew Britzke adding 40 runs for the first wicket. However, Parsons was later run out after scoring 23 runs in 21 balls. The Super Giants never recovered after this, with left-arm spinner Liam Dawson taking advantage of the spin-friendly conditions at Kingsmead. The English player showed his experience by catching and bowling Kane Williamson (3) and dismissed Britzke (21), taking 2 wickets for 18 runs in four overs.
Dawson was well supported by fellow spinner Simon Harmer, who took the big wicket of Heinrich Klaasen for just one run. Despite some dropped catches, Sunrisers fast bowlers bowled brilliant all-rounders, with Richard Gleeson and Otniel Bartman taking two wickets each, bowling out the Super Giants for just 107 runs. Both the teams will face each other again in the match to be held at St. George’s Park on Sunday.
