Delhi: Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the SA20 League title on the basis of the sharp bowling of Marco Jansen and then the restrained but aggressive batting of Matthew Bretzke and captain Tristan Stubbs. In the final match played on Sunday, the team defeated Pretoria Capitals by six wickets and lifted the trophy for the third time in four seasons and further strengthened its identity as the most successful team of the league.

Pretoria’s explosive start, Brevis’s century went in vain

Batting first, Pretoria Capitals scored 158 runs for 7 wickets. Young batsman Dewald Brevis scored a brilliant century. He played an explosive inning of 101 runs in 56 balls with the help of eight fours and seven sixes. Brewis got good support from opener Bryce Parsons and both added 97 runs for the second wicket. However, the fast bowlers of Sunrisers did not give the rest of the batting order a chance to play freely.

Yansen-Norkhia’s lethal bowling, spin became weakness

Marco Yansen bowled brilliantly and took three important wickets giving just 10 runs. Enrique Norkhia also kept the pressure on by taking a wicket with the perfect line-length. Together they conceded only 29 runs in eight overs. In contrast, James Coles and Chris Green failed to make an impact in the spin department. Both gave away 59 runs in four overs.

Sunrisers’ shaky start while chasing the target

Sunrisers Eastern Cape, which set out to chase the target of 159 runs, had a very poor start. Lungi Ngidi sent Jonny Bairstow to the pavilion without opening the account in the opening over of the match. Quinton de Kock hit some attractive shots, but he too could not play a big innings. After this, Jordan Harman and James Coles were out in quick succession, due to which the team lost four wickets for 48 runs.

Historic partnership of Bretzke and Stubbs

In difficult conditions, Matthew Bretzke and captain Tristan Stubbs handled the innings. Both batted responsibly and maintained the run pace. Bretzke scored unbeaten 68 runs in 49 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes, while Stubbs added unbeaten 63 runs in 41 balls with two fours and four sixes. There was an unbroken partnership of 114 runs between the two for the fifth wicket, which changed the direction of the match.

The course of the match changed in the last overs

Sunrisers needed 62 runs to win in the last five overs. Ngidi kept the pressure on by bowling economical overs, but in the overs of Lizard Williams and Gideon Peters, Bretzke and Stubbs made big shots and increased the run rate in their favour. The team needed 21 runs in the last two overs. 12 runs were scored in the 19th over and in the last over, Stubbs ended the match by hitting two consecutive sixes.

Third title in four seasons, Sunrisers’ dominance continues

With this victory, Sunrisers Eastern Cape achieved the feat of playing the final for the fourth consecutive time and winning the title for the third time. By making a brilliant comeback in the final, the team proved why it is considered the strongest and successful team of the SA20 League in big pressure matches.

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