Thanks for the Memories Orange Army

On Saturday the Sunrisers bid the Orange Army farewell on a weekend full of sold out crowds as the competition heads to the playoffs.

The Sunrisers Eastern Cape returned to winning ways with a bonus point victory over Paarl Royals at St George’s Park, while Durban’s Super Giants ended their Season 3 campaign on a positive note with a thrilling 11-run DLS victory over Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers on Saturday.

The Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings therefore finished third and fourth respectively on the Betway SA20 log and will meet in the Eliminator at Centurion on Wednesday, February 5.

At a packed and lively Wanderers, Durban’s Super Giants’ Heinrich Klaasen finally gave the visiting fans something to cheer about with a blitzkrieg 76 not out off 47 balls (3×4, 6×6).

In the process, Klaasen became the first batter to pass 1000 runs in Betway SA20 history.

Klaasen shared two solid partnerships of 64 off 43 balls with Kane Williamson (22) and an unbroken 70 off 43 balls with Wiaan Mulder (30 not out) to lift DSG up to 173/4.

Super Kings seamer Lutho Sipamla once again delivered an impressive four-over spell of 1/12, which included the big wicket of Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis.

JSK’s run-chase was interrupted by a rain delay that set in at 7:45pm with the hosts on 31/1 after 3.1 overs.

When play resumed at 9pm, JSK’s innings was reduced to 16 overs with the new target set at 147.

The home team were unable to create any momentum after the restart with DSG leg-spinner Noor Ahmad setting JSK back with a fantastic spell of 3/25.

DSG also handed Rookie CJ King a Betway SA20 debut and the youngster earned his maiden reward when he claimed the scalp of England’s double white-ball world champion Moeen Ali.

But that brought Donovan Ferreira (51 off 22 balls, 2×4, 5×6) to the crease and the JSK allrounder proceeded to smash the fastest half-century of Season 3 off just 21 balls to reduce the target to 17 off the final four deliveries.

DSG allrounder Dwaine Pretorius held his nerve though by removing Ferreira and Sipamla off successive deliveries to close out the contest.

Meanwhile, the Orange Army were able to bid farewell to the Sunrisers on a high note as the defending champions claimed a 48-run victory over Paarl Royals on a festive Saturday afternoon in Gqeberha.

The Sunrisers posted 148/8, courtesy of Jordan Hermann’s 53 off 38 balls, and Tristan Stubbs’ 43 off 27 balls. Stubbs smashed 23 runs in the final over delivered by the Royals new Australian recruit Mitchell Owen.

Sunrisers coach Adrian Birrell will certainly be pleased with the fact that two of the team’s young batting stars are hitting form ahead of the playoff stages.

The Sunrisers’ seamers have been highly effective at St George’s Park and they delivered once more with the competition’s leading wicket-taker Marco Jansen (3/22) and Craig Overton (3/15) claiming six wickets between them to rout the Royals for just 100.

MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals close out the league phase of Season 3 at a sold out Newlands on Sunday afternoon.