Durban's Super Giants (DSG) suffered a heavy defeat against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) at St George's Park, Gqeberha, on Sunday. Sunrisers’ all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe's 6/20 led to DSG’s downfall.

For the hosts, openers Adam Rossington and Jordan Hermann scored fifty each to stitch a match-winning stand. All-rounder Wiaan Mulder top-scored for the Super Giants with a 15-ball 29.

Rossington-Hermann add 101 for the first wicket  

DSG skipper Quinton de Kock called it right at the toss and opted to bowl on a slow and sticky surface. However, the Sunrisers' opening duo of Adam Rossington (72) and Jordan Hermann (59) began the innings on a high note.

They raced to 67/0 at the end of the powerplay, which forced DSG onto the back foot. The duo fired seamlessly to stitch an opening stand of 101 runs.

DSG spinners leak runs in the middle

The popular spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Prenelan Subrayen couldn't apply the brakes to the SEC innings. Maharaj was once again taken for runs as he ended with the figures of 3-0-37-0.

The decent spells from Subrayen (3-0-28-0) and Akila Dananjaya (3-0-19-0) were harmless, and the Sunrisers never looked struggling throughout their quota of 20 overs.

SEC skipper Aiden Markram (44) and hard-hitter Tristan Stubbs (27) took the onus from their openers and muscled the Sunrisers to post a mammoth total of 210/2.

Early breakthroughs dent DSG in the powerplay

DSG began the chase with Matthew Breetzke and Kyle Mayers at the top. After Markram rattled Breetzke's stumps early in the second over, Mulder came in at No. 3. The Proteas all-rounder (29) attacked SEC bowlers from the get-go before getting dismissed in the sixth over.

The Super Giants could only manage to post 35/2 by the end of the powerplay.

Van der Merwe's magical 6-wicket haul

All-rounder Roelof van der Merwe came to attack in the seventh over. The left-arm spinner dismissed Heinrich Klaasen (1) and de Kock (0) in consecutive deliveries to leave DSG reeling at 35/4 in 6.2 overs.

The 38-year-old continued the carnage as he removed Jason Holder (7) and Mayers (11) in the ninth over, which reduced DSG to 57/6. He further scalped the wickets of Dwaine Pretorius (3) and Subrayen (4). The DSG batters were not in a position to keep the chase alive and were bundled out for 86 runs in 14.4 overs.

"At the toss, I actually didn't know what to do. We made mistakes and we would have to come back stronger. Two games in a row that we have been bowled out. We need points desperately, hopefully, we go there and rock up," skipper de Kock looks hopeful for a win after two losses. 

Before the season break, the Super Giants are set to take on Joburg Super Kings on January 24 at the Wanderers Stadium.

Brief scores

Sunrisers Eastern Cape 210/2 in 20 overs (Adam Rossington 72, Jordan Hermann 59, Dwaine Pretorius 1/36) beat Durban's Super Giants 86/10 in 14.4 overs (Wiaan Mulder 29 off 15, Keshav Maharaj 12, Roelof van der Merwe 6/20) by 124 runs.