A CENTURY stand between Tony de Zorzi and Jordan Hermann powered the Sunrisers Eastern Cape into their third successive SA20 final as they beat Paarl Royals by eight wickets in Qualifier 2 at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday night.
Who would have thought that the same team that had started the season with three consecutive defeats would now be in the final?
However, in professional sport, some teams seem to find ways to make it to the finals and win high-pressure games.
International cricket has Australia, European football has Real Madrid, World Rugby has the Springboks, but clearly, the SA20 has the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Having been pretty much average all tournament, the Sunrisers have risen up when it matters most over the past two nights, beating Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator on Wednesday night and the Royals by eight wickets in Qualifier 2 on Thursday.
Following Markram’s heroics in the Eliminator, it was De Zorzi and Hermann who stood out and made their presence felt against the Royals as the two left-handed batters combined for 111 runs for the second wicket.
Throughout their partnership, De Zorzi was the aggressor as the 27-year-old easily accessed the boundary all around the park, bringing up his maiden half-century in the SA20.
De Zorzi smashed a 49-ball 78, a knock which saw the left-handed batter strike 11 fours and two sixes.
Amid the De Zorzi onslaught, Hermann had been building his innings nicely until he took over as the aggressor when De Zorzi lost his wicket to Dunith Wellalage (1/26) in the 15th over.
Hermann struck an unbeaten 69 off 48 deliveries (4x4, 4x6) and guided the Sunrisers to an eight-wicket victory with four balls to spare.
Earlier, Royals captain David Miller called correctly at the toss and asked the Sunrisers to bowl first, a move that was motivated by the Eastern Cape side’s strong pace attack under lights this season.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (59) continued his good form as the youngster brought up his third half-century this season, until he lost his wicket, courtesy of Craig Overton’s disciplined lines and lengths.
Rubin Hermann, though he was dropped three times – once by Markram off his own bowling and twice by his brother Jordan – smashed a career-best 81 not out and helped the Royals put together a competitive 175/4.
Jordan Hermann was inches away from getting his brother out 😲🤏
📺 Stream #BetwaySA20 on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/7IRqXv3ezT
Though the total was not enough, the left-handed batter smashed eight fours and three sixes as he helped the Royals put on a decent total.
The Sunrisers will now face MI Cape Town in the final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday (5.30pm start).
Brief Scores
Paarl Royals 175/4 off 20 overs (Rubin Hermann 81 not out; Aiden Markram 1/24)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape 177/2 off 19.2 overs (Tony de Zorzi 78; Dunith Wellalage 1/26)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape won by eight wickets