Sunrise Eastern Cape v Joburg Super Kings – Preview

It is close to a year since we witnessed the inaugural SA20 tournament become a success. Now cricket fans across the globe will be eagerly waiting for the second edition of the tournament when it resumes on Wednesday 10 January. All six participating teams have made some strong signings during the auction period. The first clash will see Sunrise Eastern Cape entertaining Joburg Super Kings.

As the traditional way, champions are always expected to pave the way or lead from the front. It is then no surprise that Sunrise Eastern Cape as the inaugural SA20 Champions will open the tournament account at home against Joburg Super Kings. A vibrant St George Park crowd will be up on their feet as it promises to be a cracker. The last time these two sides met was in the semi-finals at Supersport Park in Johannesburg in which Sunrise managed to come on top. That day, the winning side posted a mammoth total of 213 after having won the toss and elected to bat first. In reply, Super Kings seems to be in the line with the chase for much of the game before managing 199 falling 14 runs short.

It was Sunrise captain Aiden Markram who was incredible with the bat on the day scoring a century. Despite Reeza Hendricks’s grit batting of 96 runs in reply, in the end, it fell in vain. So, the match will bring so much pain to the Super Kings who were outstanding for most of the tournament last year but failed to win the important match when it matters. Revenge on the cards? But in the three matches the two sides have faced each other, Super Kings holds a 2-1 advantage over the opponent. In the robin rounds, they won home and away. In three matches between these two sides, It was bowlers that have decided two of them. The first match saw Sunrise posting a low total of 127 which the the opponent managed to chase. It was Aaron Phangiso who was the pick of bowlers taking four wickets conceding 20 runs in the four overs he bowled.

Despite Reolof Van der Merwe turning up the heat taking two wickets and being assisted by other bowlers bowling a straight line for Sunrise, Super Kings managed to chase the total with two balls to spare to give the fans a nervous finish. Then a second match saw Faf Du Plessis at his best scoring an unbeaten 92 runs to take Super Kings to 160 respectable total. In reply, Sunrise snatched 136. Now with history aside, the motivated side heading to the match has to be Sunrise. They are champions and would want to open an account with the victory and playing in front of home fans will be an advantage too.

In the last edition, Sunrise provided fans with some performances that took their breath away and got people questioning how they managed to do it. They were never the best team but a solid one. It was a combination of great effort both in attack and bowling. It was a matter of getting results as the unit. Neither would want a certain player to shine alone. Even this season, they pose to replicate that formula to stand a chance to defend their crown. But they have a tough encounter awaiting them.

Super Kings have quite a talented and balanced squad that can hurt any opponents. It no doubt they are regarded as dangerous and prime favorites to win the title. It is a squad that can hurt any opponent. So on Wednesday, we have a clash on our hands.

What To Expect

St George Park last season provided not big totals. It is a very slow pitch with the team batting second having an advantage as there will be moisture at night. And the ball will swing more.

Prediction

Super Kings to win at 1.90

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