TimesofIndia.com in
There is something about Sunrisers Eastern Cape and the SA20 playoffs. In 2023, they won the semi-final and the final. In 2024, they won Qualifier 1 and the final. Now, this year, they won the Eliminator, the Qualifier 2 and have booked a spot in the final. That is an unbelievable 6-0 record in the playoffs.
Their latest conquest, in the second qualifier, came against PAARL ROSS by eight wickets on Thursday at Centurion in Johannesburg. In the final awaits MI Cape Townat the Wanderers, on Saturday.
At the other end of this superlative record sit the Paarl Royals. For the third straight season, they’ve found themselves in the playoffs and for the third straight season they’ve not reached the finals.
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After braving the severe sun and baking heat in Centurion, SEC chased down the 176-run target with quite some ease. Skipper Aiden Markram celebrated the moment, achieved with a cracking cover drive, with a jump and an air punch but the job was done before he arrived.
Tony de Zorzi (78 from 49 balls) and Jordan Hermann (69* from 48 balls) put the game well and truly past the Royals’ reach of defending. As they put together 111 runs – the highest second-wicket stand for the franchise in SA20 history – all Markram had to do upon arrival was stay steady at the other end.
De Zorzi slammed 11 fours and two sixes, earning himself a roaring reception as he walked back to the pavilion and raised his bat. Fittingly, the locals applauded the 27-year-old who came through the U-17 and U-19 ranks at Gauteng, the province under which Johannesburg resides.
Even as his opening partner David Bedingham perished and Hermann started slowly, De Zorzi went about his business with aplomb. Soon enough, just when the required rate started to near 10 an over, Hermann joined in the act with four fours and four sixes of his own.
In the first innings, Paarl Royals started poorly with Mitchell Owen once again unable to fill in for the giant Joe Root absence. He tried to attack Marco Jasen early, only to get an edge which was held comfortably behind the stumps.
Lhuan dre-Pretroius (59 from 41) and Rubin Hermann (81 from 53) put together 99 runs for the second wicket. Andile Phehlukwayo (22 from 11) provided a late flourish but it wasn’t enough for the Royals on the night – and for a third straight SA20 season.
