SEC vs DSG

That brings down curtains for this SA20 clash between the Sunrisers and the Supergiants and SEC played a dominating brand of cricket and ended up just smashing the opposition. We will be back tomorrow again as the tournament moves to Paarl with Royals locking horns against the Jo'burg Super Kings. That's all from the commentary box. Till the next time, this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentators Pradeep and Maanas. 

Aiden Markram (Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain): It was an awesome experience to see such a large crowd. Told it at the toss. We wanted to have a strong powerplay and fortunately, the great start by our bowlers allowed us to get the bonus point in the end. To be honest, I wasn't expecting the pitch to behave like that. Much more bounce than what I expected. We kept hitting the right channels and got the rewards.

Keshav Maharaj [Durban's Super Giants captain]: We didn't expect the wicket to play like that, extra-bounce and all. But full credit to Sunrisers to put us under pressure earlier. Tried to bowl stump to stump, we capitalize with the spin at the backend. Not getting the starts we needed in the powerplay, back to the drawing board and see what has gone wrong, finding the rhythm, trusting the process is important. Can't change much in the past, focus what's in the future, hopefully we can turn things around.

Marco Jansen is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: I'm landing the balls well, getting the ball to move as well, going well for me. It's not easy to bowl in the powerplay, you're going to go for runs or take wickets. I'm taking wickets, everything is falling into place. It's all about consistency, how many you got the bat to beat. We have a good home crowd, they are behind us every single game. I don't think Stubbs is ok with that, there's some times, it's about going out there and do it, paid off for the team. 

Sunrisers Eastern Cape won by 6 wickets (with 28 deliveries to spare)

David Bedingham 39(20) | Liam Dawson 2/11(4)
Kane Williamson 44(45) | Keshav Maharaj 2/18(4)

It turned out to be an easy run chase for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape as they won by 6 wickets and also ensured they bagged the bonus point. The target of 116 was never going to challenge a batting line up like the Sunrisers. David Bedingham and Zak Crawley came out in the middle to start the run chase. The Durban Supergiants sensed an opening when Naveen-ul-Haq nicked off Zak Crawley before David Bedingham and Tom Abell steadied the ship with a 52 run stand.
 
Bedingham in particular was the aggressor. He struck 4 fours and a six during his knock of 39 which came off just 20 deliveries. Abell chipped in with 11 but never got any momentum to the innings. It was Keshav Maharaj and Noor Ahmad who brought DSG back into the game with a couple of quick wickets. Maharaj trapped Bedingham in front of the stumps while Abell was castled by a beauty from Noor Ahmad. 

Jordan Hermann and Aiden Markram then joined hands and ensured they reached close to the victory target. Hermann batted sensibly and scored 23 before Maharaj accounted for him. Just when it looked, the Sunrisers would take their time in chasing it down, Aiden Markram cut loose with some lusty blows. 

He smashed two sixes on the roof as the Sunrisers eventually chased down the target with 28 deliveries to spare. Keshav Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers for Durban, bagging two crucial wickets but unfortunately it didn't come in a winning cause. Don't go anywhere, we will be back shortly with the post-match presentation ceremony.

15.3 Junior Dala to Aiden Markram, SIX! GAME, SET AND MATCH! Sunrisers get the bonus point as Markram finishes off in style. Back to back wins against the same opposition for Sunrisers. Short into the batter, Markram dispatched it from his presence, sends another one out of the ground as it goes over the roof to seal the game in style.

This is the over the Sunrisers Eastern Cape needed to secure the bonus points. Some lusty blows from Markram in that over and the equation is down to 7 required off 30 deliveries. Markram struck the biggest six of the day and the ball had to be replaced. 

14.6 JJ Smuts to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Markram is in a hurry as he's eying the bonus point here. They are well oncourse to get that. Length delivery on the off-stump, Markram hacks it to deep mid-wicket, goes one bounce into the ropes for another boundary.

14.5 JJ Smuts to Aiden Markram, SIX! BANG! That is a monstrous hit from Markram. Spears the length delivery on the leg-stump, Markram clears his front foot and clobbered it all the way over deep mid-wicket and that goes over the roof for a humongous strike.

14.4 JJ Smuts to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Brilliant shot from Markram, beats long-off as well for a much needed boundary. Length delivery on off-stump, Markram comes forward and lofts it straight over the bowler's head and that races away.

14.2 JJ Smuts to Marco Jansen, slides the length delivery on off-stump, Jansen stood tall and flicked it away, but straight to short mid-wicket.

14.1 JJ Smuts to Aiden Markram, OH! Nearly a drag on from Markram. On a length outside the off-stump, Markram looks to cut, but gets an inside edge past the off-stump, they get the single.

Hermann perishes in an attempt to clear the long on boundary. He was trying to get it done within the next two overs which have resulted in his wicket. Maharaj has bowled brilliantly but the target isn't that much for the spinners to come into play.