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.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape are into their third straight SA20 Final! They have romped past Paarl Royals, winning by 8-wickets. Tony de Zorzi (78 from 49 balls) and Jordan Hermann (69* from 48 balls) the difference makers. Aiden Markram punches the air after punching a cover drive for a four and getting the job done in the final over
How conditions can change - Centurion was baked at the start of the match and much of the first innings. It was sunny, it was hot and only the shaded grassbanks were occupied. Now there is a nip in the air with regular wind and intermittent lightning in the background. But it doesn't look like we will have any sort of interruption.
Tony de Zorzi is holed in the deep with Wellalage getting the breakthrough. A well-played 78 run knock from the left-hander. Zorzi played his under-age cricket for Gauteng, the province that includes Johannesburg, and he gets a well deserved applause from the local faithful. Is that the turnaround moment in this qualifier?
Sunrisers Eastern Cape are coasting along in their chase. No harm done so far in this second-wicket stand between Jordan Hermann and Tony de Zorzi. The partnership has moved along to an unbeaten 87 with SEC on 114/1 after 12 overs. Paarl Royals need a breakthrough, and they need it now.
After the Powerplay overs, Sunrisers Eastern Cape have shed 51 from the 176-run target. 27-year-old left-hander Tony de Zorzi, playing his fifth game this season, is doing the job so far with five boundaries. Paarl Royals were 45/1 at this stage in the game.
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A bit two-paced, but it's coming through nicely and it was awesome to bat, we'll have to bowl well. Just because he's my brother, it doesn't affect us in any way (on Jordan Hermann's near spectacular catch). I think this is a competitive total and we're confident about defending it.
Ottneil Baartman has been walloped for a six by Hermann. It has gone the distance, over deep mid-wicket, no one stationed there. Two fans in red try and hold on to it with a single hand, to earn a massive paycheque, but it has gone down! As has Baartman. He stays down while walking back, clutching his hamstring. He has a quick chat but is unable to continue. Dawson to finish off the 19th over (TOI Photo)
Almost time to start and there is a big gap in the number of fans on the grass banks. The shaded portion is nearly full while the sunny patch, expectedly, has fewer takers so far. It could change soon. (TOI photo)
Same pitch as that of last night, but it does look quite dry. Some indentations and some cracks, it doesn't look too bad though, the pace will be OK, might get quicker under lights and will skid on. The spinners might enjoy this surface a little bit more.
It would be cool, but it's a long way away, we just need to win today and keep ourselves in the hunt. We just need to up our levels by 5-10%, it was good to see the guys keyed up for a knockout game. The wicket didn't change a lot between innings, we just need to be calm under the chase. We had confidence with the win last night. Going with the same team.
We will bat first. Good to get the runs on the board, a few results have gone that way this season. It's just about getting back to winning ways, everything to play for here, no more motivation is needed, we just need to change the momentum. We have been playing great cricket this season, we'll have to turn back to that. We've lost our way in the last few games with the bat, but that's how T20 rolls. We're going with the same team as QF1.