The Durban’s Super Giants and Sunrisers Eastern Cape are on the ropes in the SA20, and only one of them can strike back when they face off at Kingsmead tonight (5.30pm start).
Both sides came into the competition with high expectations, but with three matches played each, they currently occupy the last two spots on the SA20 table.
Despite their position, the Super Giants have had the better start of the two, as they have managed to collect all three possible results so far.
They will go into the encounter fairly confident against a Sunrisers side that will be lacking in confidence following a couple of heavy defeats.
Fresh off a 28-run loss against the unbeaten Joburg Super Kings, the KwaZulu-Natal outfit have picked up one win from their three matches, and a no-result against the Pretoria Capitals following an impressive two-run win they snatched from the jaws of defeat against the same opposition.
The 2024 finalists will hope to have New Zealand international Kane Williamson back in the side soon, following their failure to execute a 170-run chase against the Joburg side.
Williamson, who has already shown his class with a knock of 60 off 40 balls in the win over the Capitals, missed out against Joburg due to injury.
He was the missing link in the KZN side’s chase as they lacked the calmness he brings to the middle-order.
Quinton de Kock top-scored with 55 off 45 balls in his absence, and the hope will be for the hard-hitting left-hander to carry on from where he left off as he continues to ease back into cricket.
The fixture is a repeat of last year’s final, and after being hammered by a massive 89 runs, this could be a perfect time for the Super Giants to return the favour.
Meanwhile, the visitors have not looked anything like the side they were for the past two seasons.
Currently at the bottom of the log and winless after three games, Aiden Markram and his Sunrisers side cannot buy a win, and more concerning will be the manner in which they have lost their matches.
An opening-day defeat against last season’s strugglers, MI Cape Town, by 97 runs set the tone.
From thereon, the Gqeberha-based outfit have had two further losses, against the Paarl Royals by nine wickets and Faf du Plessis’ Super Kings.
The defending champions made a couple of signings, including that of English opener Zak Crawley, who has only managed scores of 12, 27 and one in his three outings.
They currently have all the ingredients, but they have so far failed to bring up a performance worthy of the personnel they have in their ranks.
Markram currently leads the way with 101 runs scored in three matches, including a top effort of 82.
But an area that has not come to the party yet for them has been the bowling department, as only Richard Gleeson has taken four wickets in three matches, and he is the only bowler in the SA20 top 10.
It is an area that has in previous times played a key role in the Sunrisers’ two titles, and one they will need to quickly sort out, as every match they play going forward will virtually be a must-win encounter.
With games coming thick and fast, a win in Durban could be a good start. | Independent Media Sport