GQEBERHA: Patrick Kruger’s blistering cameo powered Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a thrilling five-wicket win over Paarl Royals in the 30th SA20 fixture at St George’s Park on Sunday.
This victory propelled Sunrisers Eastern Cape to the top of the SA20 points table, while Paarl Royals are in third position.
Royals won the toss and opted to bat first, but could not get the desired start as Jason Roy departed in the third over.
Jos Buttler then played a 38-run cameo off 22 balls which included four boundaries and two sixes before falling prey to Liam Dawson.
Royals lost two more wickets in quick succession, slipping to 76-4 in 10 overs, before Dane Vilas and Wihan Lubbe joined hands for a crucial partnership.
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They added 49 runs for the fifth wicket but Ottniel Baartman halted their progress as he got Lubbe (27) caught behind with 125 runs on the board.
Vilas also followed his partner back to the pavilion as he fell in the next over after scoring 34 off 25 featuring four boundaries.
Andile Phehlukwayo scored an unbeaten 16, while Codi Yusuf smashed one boundary in the two balls he faced to drag their team’s total to 159/7 in 20 overs.
Baartman led the bowling honours with two wickets, while Dawson, Daniel Worrall, Beyers Swanepoel and Simon Harmer contributed with one wicket each.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape had a decent start to the chase with a 33-run stand between Jordan Hermann (21) and Dawid Malan (19).
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However, both batters departed in quick succession, leaving their side reeling at 49-2 in 7.4 overs.
Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram constructed a 63-run partnership to help their side recover from the double blow.
Phehlukwayo removed Markram, who top-scored with 37 off 27 with the help of one boundary and two sixes.
Tristan Stubbs added 19 runs to the total before falling to Phehlukwayo, while Bavuma scored a cautious 33 off 30 from the other end.
With 22 required off 11, Kruger smashed three sixes and one four amid his 26-run cameo from seven balls to steer his side to a thrilling victory on the penultimate ball.
For the Royals, Phehlukwayo picked three wickets while Yusuf and Nqabayomzi Peter picked one each.
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