Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) displayed an all-round performance in the Qualifier 1 against the mighty Durban’s Super Giants (DSG). The defending champions won the match by a whooping margin of 51 runs. Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) fans would be pumped up as they not only stamped their authority over the opposition but outplayed DSG in all the 3 facets of the game.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) bowlers hunt in a pack
DSG needed to chase down 158 runs to reach to the final of the championship. The pitch was quite a bit treacherous and the wrecker in chief was the lanky left arm pacer Marco Jansen who not only took 4 wickets in his spell of 3.3 overs but he made sure that he bowled wicket to wicket and hardly gave enough room to the batters. He and Daniel Worrell bowled immaculate line and lengths.
PC: ESPNcricinfo
Apart from Wiaan Mulder, not a single batter scored 40 odd runs as the batters were clueless against SEC’s bowling attack. Heinrich Klaasen was getting into the groove but the required run rate was getting out of the reach as the wicket turned into a mine field as the match progressed. DSG needed Quinton de Kock to stay till the end of the innings as he is someone who has the knack of playing waiting game.
Dawid Malan on a roll
SEC’s star left handed batter Dawid Malan laid down the foundation for the rest of the batting line up. Malan scored 63 runs in 45 balls as he struck 6 fours and 1 six in his brilliant knock. Skipper Aiden Markram too played a handy knock of 30 runs in 23 balls and smashed 1 four and 1 six.
PC: ESPNcricinfo
Great chance for Sunrisers Eastern Cape
The defending champions would sense that they can retain the title as it was a collective effort from the players. The only problem which SEC would have to face which is that they are too much reliant on Dawid Malan which is not at all a good sign as winning championships requires team effort and one bad day at the ground can ruin all the effort.
Wake up Call for Durban’s Super Giants
DSG would be utterly disappointed with their performance and perhaps, the scintillating left handed batter Quinton de Kock should open the batting and let him play his natural game rather than making him bat against the spinners. DSG would be eagerly waiting for the result of the Eliminator match between Paarl Royals & Joburg Super Kings as the winner of the contest would face them on 8th February at Johannesburg.
DSG skipper Keshav Maharaj perhaps needs to roll his arm in the powerplay overs as the left arm spinner has got a lot of variations and can fox the batters. DSG fans would be hoping that the side peaks after an almost near perfect league stage matches.