JOHANNESBURG: Sunrisers Eastern Cape bowlers decimated Joburg Super Kings and powered them to a crushing nine-wicket victory, which sealed their spot in the SA20 knockouts.
The defending champions after booking the hosts on a measly total, chased down the target in just 11 overs to earn a bonus point which propelled them to book their place in the knockout stage of SA20.
Eastern Cape captain Aiden Markram’s decision to bowl first paid dividends for his side as his bowlers wreaked havoc to bundle the Super Kings on a mere 78.
The home side had a disastrous start to their innings as they lost skipper Faf du Plessis and Reeza Hendricks – both duck – in the second over with just 10 runs on the board.
Wayne Madsen then joined Leus du Plooy in the middle and attempted to settle things down with a cautious stand.
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The duo could put together 22 runs for the third wicket before Beyers Swanepoel removed du Plooy on the first delivery of the fifth over. He scored 18 off 12 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.
The Super Kings then began to lose wickets at an alarming rate but Madsen was ticking the scoreboard singlehandedly until the 11th over.
He had a frustrating end to his fighting knock when he tickled Patrick Kruger’s delivery, pitched way outside the leg, to wicketkeeper Tristan Stubbs.
Madsen remained the top-scorer for the Super Kings with a 23-ball 32 which featured five boundaries and a six.
Following his departure, the ruthless Eastern Cape bowling attack wasted no time in sweeping the tail.
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Patrick Kruger and Daniel Worrall bagged three wickets each for the Eastern Cape while Beyers Swanepoel and Marco Jansen picked two each.
In response, Sunrisers Eastern Cape comfortably chased down the 79-run target for the loss of just one wicket and 54 balls to spare.
The defending champions, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as they lost Jordan Hermann (11) in the fifth over with the scoreboard reading 29.
But Tom Abell partnered strongly with Dawid Malan and made sure there were no further hiccups in the modest run chase and steered their side to glory in 11 overs.
Malan top-scored for the Eastern Cape with an unbeaten 40 off 32 deliveries, hitting five boundaries and a six while Abell scored 26 not out.
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