It just wasn’t our night! We lost to Sunrisers Eastern Cape by 89 runs in the SA20 2024 final at Cape Town on Saturday.
Definitely not the way we envisioned our season to end but there are a lot of positives we can take away from the campaign.
From failing to make it to the knockout rounds last season to marching all the way to the final this year, it was a big step in the right direction for us irrespective of today’s heartbreaking result.
A big thank you to the fans who supported us throughout the season and big props to the boys for providing us with an incredible campaign to remember. We promise we’ll be back next season, better and stronger.
Keshav Maharaj shines with the ball
With SEC deciding to have a bat first, our ever-reliable Reece Topley struck in the second over, trapping Dawid Malan leg before.
However, it proved to be our only break for a while as Tom Abell and Jordan Hermann combined for a 90-run partnership for the third wicket.
At 101/1 after the first 10 overs, SEC looked on course to a mammoth total and we desperately needed a breakthrough. In stepped captain Keshav Maharaj and provided us with two.
After being hit for a four in the first ball of the 11th over, Maharaj had Hermann (42 off 26) holed up in the deep with his second delivery. Four balls later, our captain fantastic outfoxed Abell (55 off 34) and knocked off his off stump.
SEC, however, didn’t lose any more wickets as Tristan Stubbs (56* off 30) and Aiden Markram drove Sunrisers to 204/3 in the allotted 20 overs.
Mulder stands out in a forgettable chase
Chasing a formidable score, we suffered three early blows as Quinton de Kock, JJ Smuts and Bhanuka Rajapaksa departed in quick succession.
Reduced to 7/3, we needed a period of consolidation to stay alive in the contest. Matthew Breetzke and Wiaan Mulder lent their shoulders to the cause and added 56 for the fourth wicket.
The rescue act, however, ended with both batters departing in successive deliveries and we were back to square one. Our troubles only deepened after Heinrich Klaasen’s departure for a duck and we were looking down the barrel at 69/6.
Dwaine Pretorius produced a valiant final stand and scored a classy 28 from 17 balls, featuring three boundaries and a massive six of Jansen. However, we kept losing wickets at regular intervals and our innings ended at 115 in 17 overs.
Brief Scores: Sunrisers Eastern Cape 204/3 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 56*; Keshav Maharaj 2/33) beat Durban’s Super Giants 115/10 in 17 overs (Wiaan Mulder 38; Marco Jansen 5/30) by 89 runs.
