Paarl Royals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Royals lean on Rovman Powell's arrival at Bullring

The Betway SA20 Qualifier 2 will be a repeat of last season, when the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Paarl Royals face off at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday evening for a place in Sunday’s coveted final.

The Sunrisers were comfortable victors at Centurion last season, winning by eight wickets, but the tables have been turned this year heading into the all-important clash.

Two-time champions Sunrisers must shake off a defeat to Pretoria Capitals in Qualifier 1, while Royals dismantled the Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator at Centurion on Thursday and will be buzzing with confidence ahead of clash at the Bullring, unlike 12 months ago when they limped ito the playoff match

The Royals' victory was particularly significant, for it was their first Betway SA20 playoff victory in five attempts, while they also showed good character to bounce back from losing to the same JSK outfit earlier in the week in the final group match in Paarl.

“It was a tough one to take, probably not one we wanted to be playing in the third and fourth playoff after the first eight games,” said Royals all-rounder Asa Tribe. 

“We thought we could get right in the top two, but look, we ended up in this position, and we fought back after a tough loss last game. The momentum is with us. They're off the back of a loss. We're flying high.” 

The Royals have also strengthened their squad with West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell, who could add significant firepower to their middle-order. 

Powell replaced mystery spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, who was called up for international duty with Afghanistan.

On the other hand, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape will lean on their 67% win rate over the Royals, having won six out of nine games between the two teams.

The Gqeberha-based outfit will take confidence in knowing that they have been in a similar position last year, where they played the same team in Qualifier 2 and beat them to progress to the final.

The clash is set to get underway at 5.30pm.