Last Update: February 12, 2023, 22:57 IST
Johannesburg, South Africa
Sunrisers Eastern Cape win the first SA20 (Twitter/@SunrisersEC)
Roelof van der Merwe claimed four wickets as Pretoria Capitals were bundled out for 135 as Sunrisers Eastern Cape chased down the target in 16.2 overs.
English batsman Adam Rossington smashed a 30-ball 57 as Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the inaugural South African SA20 tournament with a four-wicket final win over Pretoria Capital on Sunday.
Underdogs ahead of their match at Wanderers in Johannesburg, the side from the coastal town of Gkeberha restricted Pretoria to 135 in 19.3 overs on a pitch that turned and bouncy.
Rossington then led the way as the Sunrisers overcame the early loss of South Africa’s white-ball captain Temba Bavuma to 137 for six with 22 balls to spare.
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The end came for Rossington on the first ball of the 11th over, as his top edge off Enrich Nortje was caught by Pretoria wicketkeeper and fellow Englishman Phil Salt.
Rossington hit five sixes and four fours as he laid the foundation for a victory by a team known as the Orange Army who were scrapped in the knockout stages on net run rate.
Another star for Sunrisers was 38-year-old off-spinner Roolof van der Merwe, a former South Africa and Netherlands international, who picked up four wickets.
“I am absolutely delighted after this win,” Van der Merwe told reporters. “It was an incredible game for us. We got progressively better in this tournament.”
Sri Lankan international batsman/wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis top-scored for Pretoria with 21 runs, which included a six and a four.
After the flops of the two previous Twenty20 franchise tournaments hosted by South Africa, the SA20 was widely praised by players, officials and spectators.
short number
Pretoria Capitals 135 in 20 overs (K. Mendis 21; R. van der Merwe 4-31) vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape 137-6 in 16.2 overs (A. Rossington 57, A. Markham 26, J. Harman 22, A. Nortje) 2-21)
Result: Sunrisers win by four wickets
Toss: Sunrisers
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)