SA20 2025, Match 28 Review: Sunrisers bid farewell with bonus point win over Paarl Royals

Sunrisers Eastern Cape returned to winning ways at St George’s Park on Saturday, caliming a 48-run victory over Paarl Royals on a festive Saturday afternoon in Gqeberha at SA20 2025.

In the process, the defending back-to-back champions sealed third place on the SA20 Season 3 standings and will meet Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator at Centurion on Wednesday, 5 February.

Their captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bat against Royals, who were once again captained by Bjorn Fortuin, and were much changed. with new-dad David Miller recovering from a niggle too. Australian replacement signing Mitchell Owen went straight into the Playing XI and Rookie Dewan Marais was also handed a debut. With Dinesh Karthik rested, Lhuan-dre Pretorius took the gloves today.

Sunrisers posted 148/8, courtesy of Jordan Hermann’s 53 off 38 balls, and Tristan Stubbs’ 43 off 27 balls. Stubbs smashed 23 runs in the final over delivered by Royals’ new Australian recruit Mitchell Owen.

Check out: SA20 2025 Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Paarl Royals, 28th Match - Scorecard

Sunrisers coach Adrian Birrell will certainly be pleased with the fact that two of the team’s young batting stars are hitting form ahead of the all-important playoffs stages.

The Sunrisers’ seamers have been highly effective at St George’s Park and they delivered once more with the competition’s leading wicket-taker Marco Jansen (3/22) and Craig Overton (3/15) claiming six wickets between them to rout the Royals for just 100.

Brief scores

Sunrisers Eastern Cape 148/8 in 20 overs (Jordan Hermann 53 off 38, Tristan Stubbs 43off 27; Bjorn Fortuin 2/20, Eshan Malinga 2/21, Mitchell Owen 2/36.

Paarl Royals 100/10 (Rubin Hermann 35 off 39; Craig Overton 3/15, Marco Jansen 3/22, Aiden Markram 2/15)

Result: Sunrisers Eastern Cape won by 48 runs.