James Coles, Senuran Muthusamy help Sunrisers Eastern Cape blitz past Paarl Royals and into record fourth final
SA20
SUNRISERS Eastern Cape brought the fire at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium as their bowling attack, spearheaded by Senuran Muthusamy, ran through the Paarl Royals’ batting order like a wildfire when the two sides faced off in qualifier 2 of the Betway SA20 season 4 last night.
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Spin-bowling all-rounders Senuran Muthusamy and James Coles led the Sunrisers Eastern Cape past the Paarl Royals by seven wickets and into a record fourth final of the Betway SA20.
Chasing a low 115 run to win Qualifier Two at the Bullring on Friday evening, Coles continued his rich vein of form with an explosive and unbeaten 45 runs off 19 deliveries, a knock which saw the right-hander batter smash three maximums and four boundaries.
Matthew Breetzke played an important hand, as he put together a well paced 19 off 18 deliveries, as the pair combined for am unbeaten 67-run partnership for the fourth wickets.
The duo guided the Sunrisers Eastern Cape over the line, chasing the target with 50 balls to spare to secure a spot in the final against the Pretoria Capitals at Newlands in Cape Town tomorrow.
Paarl Royals spinner Bjorn Fortuin finished pick of the bowlers with an impressive 2/26 in his allotted 4 overs, while Ottneil Baartman (1/11) took one wicket in the match.
Earlier, spinner Senuran Muthusamy led from the front with ball in hand, returning sparkling figures of 3/15 in his allotted four overs.
The slow left-arm orthodox got three big wickets, as he dismissed Asa Tribe (1), Sikandar Raza (19) and Rovman Powell (1), essentially cleaning up the Paarl Royals for 114/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
However, it was fast bowlers Marco Jansen and Lutho Sipamla who set a solid foundation with the new ball.
Taking the first over, despite finishing wicketless, Jansen (0/9) was on top of his game right from the first ball, bowling tight lines and lengths.
That first over created all the pressure that Sipamla (1/14) needed to strike. The right-arm quick got the better of the in-form Lhuan-dre Pretorius (3), as the batter looked to hit the ball over mid-off only to find the safe hands of Tristan Stubbs.
Anrich Nortje struck soon after, dismissing the dangerous Rubin Hermann (12) cheaply, while spinner James Coles got the better of Dan Lawrence (4), to conclude what was a fruitful first powerplay for the two-time champions.
Royals opening batter Kyle Verreynne (52) fought a lone fight, as he stood his ground against what was a clinical bowling performance from the Sunrisers on Friday evening.
Full ScorecardPaarl Royals: 114/7 (Kyle Verreynne 52; Senuran Muthusamy 3/15)Sunrisers Eastern Cape: 117/3 (James Coles 45 not out; Bjorn Fortuin 2/26)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape won by seven wickets with 50 balls remaining.