Sunrisers celebrate

Sunrisers celebrate a wicket. Photo: Sportzpics

REPORT: Sunrisers shine bright to be crowned SA20 champs!

Aiden Markram contributed with bat and ball as the Sunrisers Eastern Cape were crowned the inaugural winners of the SA20.

Sunrisers celebrate

Sunrisers celebrate a wicket. Photo: Sportzpics

Coming into the title decider of the hugely successful SA20 competition, the Pretoria Capitals – who had been the pick of all the teams during the league phase – were seen by many as the favourites to defeat the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

However, Sunrisers captain Aiden Markram had found some sensational form with a century in the semi-final, and the Proteas stalwart again led from the front.

Throughout the tournament, Markram has actually impressed with the ball, and he once again delivered the goods with his controlled off spin, recording economical figures of 1-17 after four overs.

There was plenty of good support from the other bowlers, with Sisanda Magala claiming 2-30 while Ottniel Baartman chipped in with 2-22, but it was veteran Roelof ‘The Bulldog’ Van der Merwe who again worked his magic with stunning figures of 4-31.

It ripped the heart out of the Capitals’ batting order, and ultimately they were dismissed for a subpar 135.

In reply, opener Adam Rossington played the perfect hand as smashed a quickfire 57 off 30 ball to alleviate any early pressure, while rising star Jordan Hermann chipped in with 22 off 17 balls.

Markram also continued to bat with confidence and class, scoring 26 off 19 runs, with the score reading 113-4 when he was dismissed.

The Capitals did snatch two more wickets from there as the final push to the finish line became a little nervy, but Marco Jansen then quickly carried them to a four-wicket victory with a stunning couple of boundaries to finish the match.

It’s ultimately an incredible end result for a Sunrisers team that made a shaky start to the tournament, but got better and better as the tournament went on.

You can check out the full scoreboard here

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SA20 stars Aiden Markram and Wayne Parnell

SA20 stars Aiden Markram and Wayne Parnell.

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