<p>In the rain-affected Qualifier 1, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the defending champions, defeated Durban’s Super Giants by 51 runs to advance to their second straight Betway SA20 final.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-390276″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/theindiaprint.com-sa20-the-sunrisers-eastern-cape-led-by-aiden-markram-win-their-second-straight-cha.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com sa20 the sunrisers eastern cape led by aiden markram win their second straight cha” width=”977″ height=”651″ title=”SA20: The Sunrisers Eastern Cape led by Aiden Markram win their second straight championship 9″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/theindiaprint.com-sa20-the-sunrisers-eastern-cape-led-by-aiden-markram-win-their-second-straight-cha.jpg 510w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/theindiaprint.com-sa20-the-sunrisers-eastern-cape-led-by-aiden-markram-win-their-second-straight-cha-150×100.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px” /></p>
<p>Tuesday’s intense rain forced the play to be abandoned for about an hour, although no overs were lost. The second qualification and elimination round will be held in Johannesburg, and the final will be played here on Saturday.</p>
<p>Following Sunrisers’ modest 157/8 score thanks to a calculated half-century from Dawid Malan (63), the speed combination of Marco Jansen (4/16) and Ottniel Baartman (4/10) tore through Durban’s Super Giants’ batting lineup, knocking them out for 106 in 19.3 overs.</p>
<p>Eight wickets were split between the two.</p>
<p>Tony de Zorzi, the opener, was dismissed cheaply by Jansen in the second over, drawing first blood. Baartman, however, changed the game by taking two wickets in his first four overs. With his 4/10, the right-arm seamer has emerged as the league’s top wicket-taker.</p>
<p>Matthew Breetzke was the first player he removed, when he edged the ball straight to wicketkeeper Tristan Stubbs.</p>
<p>Aiden Markram’s outstanding agility was the cause of Baartman’s second scalp. In mid-on, the captain delivered a fantastic one-handed stunner to assist in dismissing Jon Jon Smuts.</p>
<p>The dangerous Quinton de Kock was the Super Giants’ only hope, but in the eleventh over, Liam Dawson’s catch and bowl attempt forced him out as well. Wiaan Mulder (38), the leading scorer for DSG, was also caught in the deep by the left-arm spinner.</p>
<p>Just as the Proteas star was getting warmed up, Baartman then caught the hard-hitting Heinrich Klaasen (23 off 15 balls) behind.</p>
<p>The night’s DSG challenge came to an end with Klaasen’s ejection, as Jansen ran through the tail to guarantee the Sunrisers’ easy march to the final.</p>
