de Zorzi, Hermann carry Sunrisers Eastern Cape to third SA20 final

de Zorzi, Hermann carry Sunrisers Eastern Cape to third SA20 final

Sunrisers Eastern Cape booked their place in the SA20 final with an eight-wicket win over Paarl Royals at Centurion. The two-time defending champions chased down 176 with four balls to spare, keeping their unbeaten playoff record intact and setting up a showdown with MI Cape Town in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Tony de Zorzi and Jordan Hermann put together a match-winning 111-run partnership for the second wicket, taking Sunrisers into a dominant position. De Zorzi played a fluent knock of 78 before falling to Dunith Wellalage but Hermann remained composed, finishing unbeaten on 69 alongside captain Aiden Markram (11*).

Earlier, Paarl Royals, having opted to bat first, relied on a strong second-wicket stand of 99 between Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann. Pretorius played a steady hand with 59 off 41 balls, while Hermann delivered his highest SA20 score, smashing an unbeaten 81 from 53 deliveries. Andile Phehlukwayo added a quickfire 22 off 11 balls in the death overs, pushing the Royals to a competitive 175/4.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape will aim for a historic third consecutive SA20 title as they prepare to face MI Cape Town in the grand final.

Brief Scores:
Paarl Royals 175/4 (Hermann 81*, Pretorius 59; Craig Overton 1-24, Markram 1-24) lost to Sunrisers Eastern Cape 177/2 (de Zorzi 78, Hermann 69*; Wellalage 1-26) by 8 wickets