A fantastic all-round display by Durban’s Super Giants helped them defeat reigning champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape by 35 runs at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Saturday. This was DSG’s second win on the bounce in SA20 2024.
Electing to bat first, DSG put up a formidable 225/3 on the board in their 20 overs before restricting SEC to 190/9. JJ Smuts, who joined DSG from SEC this season, was the standout player on the night, scoring 75 off 38 balls with the bat and picking up 2/35 with the ball.
Breetzke, Smuts and Pooran light up St George's Park
After a watchful start, Quinton de Kock stepped on the gas in the third over, hitting Daniel Worrall for back-to-back boundaries before Matthew Breetzke took over. The opener welcomed Simon Harmer with three maximums and followed up with three boundaries and one six off Beyers Swanepoel.
Quinton de Kock departed for 26 in the sixth over but Breetzke and JJ Smuts kept the momentum going. He scored 43 off just 29 balls before being holed up at backward square leg off Marco Jansen.
However, there was little respite for the SEC bowlers as Smuts and Nicholas Pooran continued the rampage in Gqeberha.
Smuts completed his half-century in just 29 deliveries and continued to clear the boundary almost at will. His knock of 75 off 38 balls, which featured four boundaries and seven maximums, finally ended after being caught in the deep.
Pooran registered his fifty even quicker, getting to his maiden SA20 half-century in just 27 deliveries. The West Indies ace remained unbeaten on 60 off 31 while Henrich Klaasen got off some nifty hits towards the end to help DSG put up 225/3 on the scoreboard in the 20 overs.
All-round bowling effort takes DSG home
Richard Gleeson and Reece Topley removed Adam Rossington and Jordan Hermann, respectively early to reduce SEC to 13/2 inside the first three overs.
SEC captain Aiden Markram and Tom Abell, however, steadied the home team’s ship with a nifty 93-run partnership.
Interestingly, it was Smuts who provided DSG with the much-needed breakthrough, cleaning up Markram for 29. DSG skipper Keshav Maharaj also got in on the action and dismissed danger man Tom Abell, who hit 65 off 36 before playing one straight to Klaasen at long off.
Smuts picked up his second wicket of the night, knocking out Jansen this time, as the reigning champions were left reeling at 129/5 after 14 overs.
With 73 to get off the final four overs, the defending champions needed a miracle to pull off an unlikely win and Tristan Stubbs, with 55 off 26, took a decent stab at it. Despite his late heroics, though, SEC fell 35 runs short of DSG’s total.
What next for the Super Giants?
DSG will head back to Kingsmead to face Joburg Super Kings on Monday for what will be their second home match of the SA20 2024 season.
Brief Scores: Durban’s Super Giants 225/3 in 20 overs (JJ Smuts 75; Daniel Worrall 2/23) beat Sunrisers Eastern Cape 190/9 in 20 overs (Tom Abell 65; Dwaine Pretorius 2/19) by 35 runs.
