Sunrisers Eastern Cape Beat Pretoria Capitals By 4 Wickets; Win Inaugural SA20 Title

Cricket Image for Sunrisers Eastern Cape Beat Pretoria Capitals By 4 Wickets; Win Inaugural SA20 Tit (Image Source: Twitter)

SA20 Final: With an exceptional fifty from Adam Rossington, Sunrisers Eastern Cape chased down 136 runs against Pretoria Capitals in the final of SA20 2023 with 22 deliveries remaining. The Aiden Markram-led Sunrisers Eastern Cape have won the inaugural season of the SA20 league. 

Chasing 136 runs to win, Sunrisers lost Temba Bavuma in the 2nd over. After that, opener Rossington and Jordan Hermann (22 runs, 5 fours) upped the run rate and didn't lose any more wickets inside the powerplay. The two of them etched a partnership of 67 runs for the 2nd wicket. 

After Adil Rashid got rid of Hermann in the 7th over, captain Aiden Markram came out with the intent to finish the chase. Rossington was dismissed in the 11th over after scoring 57 runs. As Anrich Nortje got the big wicket, the Sunrisers were already on 103, requiring just 34 runs more to win in 9.5 overs. 

Sunrisers lost quick wickets in the form of Markram (26), Jordan Cox (7) and Tristan Stubbs (5), but Marco Jansen smacked an unbeaten 13 runs to take the team across the winning line, to make Sunrisers the maiden winners of SA20 league. For Pretoria Capitals, Anrich Nortje picked up 2 wickets while Eathan Bosch, Adil Rashid, Colin Ingram and James Neesham managed 1 wicket each. 

Sunrisers Eastern Cape are the first ever #SA20 Champions#CricketTwitter #SEC #SRH pic.twitter.com/RuozIRsw2t

— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) February 12, 2023

In the first innings, Roelof van der Merwe picked up 4 wickets, restricting Pretoria Capitals to 135/10 in 19.3 overs. Kusal Mendis was the top scorer for the Capitals with 21 runs while none of the other batters were able to cross the 20-run mark. 

Apart from van der Merwe, Sisanda Magala and Ottniel Baartman picked up 2 wickets each while Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram managed 1 wicket each. 

Earlier, Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Aiden Markram won the toss & opted to field first against Pretoria Capitals in the final of SA20 2023. This match was played at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. 

Click here to check PRE vs EAC Full score