Evan Jones struck a match-winning four off Anrich Nortje to seal a dramatic two-wicket victory for Durban Super Giants over table-toppers Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St George’s Park on Sunday, keeping his side’s SA20 playoff hopes alive.
DSG reached 162/8 from 19.3 overs to overhaul SEC’s competitive 158/5, with Jones scoring just seven runs from six balls but delivering when it mattered most. The visitors needed four runs from the final over with only two wickets remaining, creating a nerve-shredding finish in Gqeberha.
Tristan Stubbs’ explosive late innings of 47*(30) balls had earlier propelled SEC to a defendable total after they slumped to 87/5 in the 14th over. The captain struck five fours and a six in the final two overs alongside Lewis Gregory, who contributed an unbeaten 25 from 17 deliveries in a crucial sixth-wicket partnership of 71 runs.
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DSG’s chase began brilliantly as captain Aiden Markram hammered six boundaries in his 25-run cameo before Marco Jansen held a spectacular catch off Senuran Muthusamy. Marques Ackerman continued the assault with a blistering 45 (26), including consecutive boundaries of six, four, and four against Adam Milne, taking DSG to 71/1 after the powerplay.
However, the middle order wobbled on a slow, tricky pitch. Jos Buttler fell for a run-a-ball 22, Sunil Narine departed for a three-ball duck, and Heinrich Klaasen managed only 10 (11) deliveries. When David Bedingham and Liam Livingstone both holed out to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, DSG’s chase spluttered at 143/8.
Gerald Coetzee revived DSG’s hopes by thumping Milne for a straight six in the penultimate over, reducing the equation to four runs from six balls. Milne claimed revenge by bowling Coetzee, leaving number 11 Kwena Maphaka at the crease. The 19-year-old fast bowler demonstrated remarkable composure, scrambling a leg bye off Nortje’s first delivery before Jones sealed the victory with a slash behind point.
Earlier, SEC struggled for momentum after winning the toss. Coetzee removed Jonny Bairstow for 11 before Sunil Narine dismissed De Kock for 13. Jordan Hermann contributed 29 before falling lbw to Maphaka, whilst Matthew Breetzke scratched to 20 (22). Noor Ahmed impressed with his figures, whilst Maphaka conceded 44 from his four overs, including 19 from the final over.
The victory marks DSG’s second-ever win over SEC and lifts them off the bottom of the SA20 table.
