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TimesofIndia.com at Centurion:
Joburg Super Kings‘ winless streak at the Centurion in the SA20 continued on Wednesday when they lost by 32 runs to two-time defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Johannesburg. Their fifth consecutive loss at the picturesque ground, though, means they are now out of contention for the SA20 2025 final. Sunrisers, however, will have to go through Paarl Royals on Thursday in Qualifier 2. A win there and they will square off with MI Cape Town on Saturday for a chance at doing a staggering hat-trick.
Put in to bat, SEC scored 184/6 in their allotted 20 overs with skipper Aiden Markram playing a captain’s knock of an unbeaten 62 runs from 40 balls. In reply, JSK got going in patches but never enough to overhaul the target. Eventually, they were halted on 152/7 with Jonny Bairstow’s 37 runs from 17 balls the biggest contribution.
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With the Gautrain running adjacent to Centurion, gunning at high speeds of 160-180 kmph, so were Markram, Tristan Stubbs (26 from 21) and Marco Jansen (23 from 12 balls). As they went gung ho, much of the brunt was felt by Lutho Sipamla who went for 0/72 in the four overs – the most expensive spell in SA20 history.
The difference, eventually, came down to one over. Just six balls. That is where the game was largely won and lost.
It was the 19th over of the SEC innings, the band was in full noise, crowd were enjoying their beers and families preparing for the grills. The 26-year-old Sipamla prepared to bowl the penultimate over.
First ball, six. Full, sixth stump line, smashed beyond the sightscreen. Third ball, short, outside off, pulled into the grassbanks for six more. Next one, a no ball. Cherry on the cake at this stage. Fourth ball, freebie four with the fielder making a mess of it. Next, four more. Once again, width offered, low full toss, square drive four. Last ball, length ball, on the off stump, Jansen whips it for a maximum over deep mid-wicket.
6, 1, 6, 2nb, 4, 4, 6 — 29 runs from the over. SEC had suddenly gone from 146/5 to 175/5 before finishing on 184/6.
During the chase, Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis tried to provide the launchpad with a 40-run partnership for the opening wicket. There were further stands for 22, 29, 25 and 24 but none that could circumvent the damage done by that over.
Bairstow tried to replicate the mayhem with 21 runs from six balls at one point – hitting 6, 1, 4, 6, 4 – but his attempts were halted with a missed reverse sweep.
As he walked back, annoyed with himself, SEC could breathe easy. They had taken a virtual step into the second qualifier at this very ground.
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