Aiden Markram's stole thunder with his cracking century to power Sunrisers Eastern Cape into SA20 final after beating Joburg Super Kings by 14 runs in the semifinal on Thursday (February 9). Riding on this victory, Eastern Cape have set up a final date with Pretoria Capitals who thrashed Paarl Royals earlier.
Skipper Markram, who was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 2.60 Crore for the IPL 2023, led from the front to clobber a marvellous 100 off just 58 balls in at Centurion to help Eastern Cape post a huge total of 213/5.
The resilient Markram steadied Sunrisers boat from a precarious 10/2 after both openers Temba Bavuma and Adam Rossington returned to hut early, coutesy Lizaad Williams' (4/41) back to back strike.
But that was when the experienced Markram made the ultimate difference as he formed a match-turning 99-run partnership with Jordan Hermann. The SA20 has unveiled plenty of young South African talent and young Hermann certainly showed that he is one to look out for in the future with a composed 48 (36 balls) that helped resurrect the Sunrisers' innings.
With Tristan Stubbs (20) and Jordan Cox (18) adding a couple of cameos along with Markram's powerful strikes, it allowed the Sunrisers to post an imposing 213/5.
The Super Kings' chase got off to the worst possible start when their in-form captain Faf du Plessis pulled Sisanda Magala's first delivery of the innings straight to the deep square leg.
The Super Kings' woes were compounded when Leus du Plooy followed shortly for another duck as the Sunrisers exerted their dominance.
But the Wanderers-based side were not ready to give up without a fight. Reeza Hendricks kept the Super Kings in the contest until the final over with a superb 96. Ultimately, though, it was the Sunrisers' night as the Super Kings fell short by 14 runs as they finished on 199/5.
Earlier, riding on Rilee Rossouw's impressive knock Pretoria Capitals routed Paarl Royals by 29 runs in the first semifinal. Rossouw held the Capitals’ innings together with 56 off 41 balls as the table-toppers posted a competitive 153/8 after being inserted by the Royals. It was a surface that was not conducive to fluent strokeplay and Rossouw had to restrain his natural attacking game after the Royals spinners Bjorn Fortuin (1/24) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2/19) had started well.
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