SA 20: Sunrisers Secure Third Straight Bonus Point Victory
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Synopsis
On January 23, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape consolidated their dominance in SA20 with a third consecutive bonus point win, defeating the Pretoria Capitals by 52 runs at St George’s Park. Aiden Markram's unbeaten 68 and Marco Jansen's stellar bowling were crucial to the victory.
Key Takeaways
- Sunrisers achieved a vital win against Pretoria Capitals.
- Aiden Markram scored a crucial 68 not out.
- Marco Jansen impressed with both bat and ball.
- Eathan Bosch became the Capitals' leading wicket-taker.
- Capitals captain Rilee Rossouw remains optimistic about the season.
Gqeberha, Jan 23 (NationPress) The Sunrisers Eastern Cape momentum is escalating as the reigning champions of SA20 celebrated their third successive bonus point victory on Wednesday night.
In front of the enthusiastic Orange Army at St George’s Park, the Sunrisers triumphed over the Pretoria Capitals by 52 runs.
The Sunrisers now hold third place with 15 points, while the Capitals are positioned fifth with 9 points.
This match tested the back-to-back champions, who found themselves struggling at 53/5 due to a strong start from Capitals bowler Eathan Bosch (3-33) and new Australian addition Jason Behrendorff.
Bosch has now emerged as the Capitals’ leading wicket-taker with 26 dismissals, surpassing former captain Wayne Parnell’s 24.
In need of a captain’s performance, Aiden Markram stepped up, scoring a resilient 68 not out from 55 balls, pushing the Sunrisers to 149/7.
Markram received crucial support from Marco Jansen (24 off 24 balls) and Liam Dawson (25 off 11 balls), shifting the momentum in favor of the home side.
“It was tough; the new ball was doing a lot, swinging and bouncing. When the ball softened, some stuck to the surface, making it challenging. Their bowlers are very skilled, so I focused on my technique, which helped me settle in,” said Markram.
“We didn't want to act too hastily; Marco Jansen provided the necessary impetus, and the contributions from him and Dawson were vital, allowing me to find my rhythm. It's fantastic for South Africa to witness such a young talent consistently performing.”
“He possesses a calm demeanor, and I’m grateful for the crowd’s support in such large numbers. It was difficult conditions, and to see them come out on such a windy day was wonderful,” he added.
Jansen is quickly becoming a frontrunner for the SA20 Season 3 Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, as the all-rounder followed up his valuable batting with an exceptional bowling performance.
The tall left-arm seamer dismantled the Capitals’ top order with figures of 3-7, supported by Richard Gleeson (1-22), leaving the visitors in disarray at 28/4.
The Capitals introduced rookie Keagan Lion-Cachet for his SA20 debut, and the 22-year-old demonstrated both skill and composure at this level.
The right-handed batsman scored a solid 28 in tandem with Marques Ackerman (25), offering the Sky Blues a glimmer of hope.
However, the Sunrisers were determined to secure victory at home, with Dawson (3-17) striking twice in quick succession to seal another bonus point win.
Capitals captain Rilee Rossouw believes his team can still reverse their fortunes.
“I felt we executed our bowling strategy well; 150 was a reasonable target, and the bowlers performed admirably, but our batting fell short,” Rossouw remarked.
“It was about trusting our instincts, aiming to extend the match’s duration, but we kept losing wickets in the middle overs. Hitting half-volleys straight to mid-off and half-trackers to long leg isn’t instinctive batting.”
“We need to adhere to our processes; a few wins could see us through to the playoffs.”
