Staff Reporter.
@GalloImages.
Half centuries Durban’s Super Giants batsmen Jon Smuts and Nicholas Pooran helped them post a commanding 225/3 in the Betway SA20 in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Smuts hit 75 runs from 38 balls while Pooran clubbed a brisk 60 from 31 balls to help their side punish the home side’s bowling attack.
Winning the toss and choosing to make first use of the St George’s Park conditions, the opening pair of Quinton de Kock and Gqeberha boy Matthew Breetzke were in destructive mood as they raced to 58 without loss.
De Kock was the first wicket to fall having made his way to 23 before being dismissed by Marco Jansen, caught by Dan Worrall.
Breetzke continued the onslaught, hitting four boundaries and three sixes on his way to 43, before Worrall claimed his first wicket for the Orange Army.
Jon Jon Smuts and Nicholas Pooran took the fight to the bowlers, sharing 51 runs from 36 deliveries for the third wicket to take their score to 136/2 and five overs to go.
Smuts would go on to hit two sixes and a boundary to bring up his half century off 29 balls including three boundaries and four sixes.
DSG would add 89 runs in the final five overs, taking their partnership to 100 as Smuts reached 75 runs from 38 balls before he was caught by Jansen for Worrall’s second of the match.
Pooran hit three boundaries and a massive six in a 21 run 19th over, to take DSG past 200, while bringing up his half century in just 27 balls.
The left handed West Indian finished unbeaten on 60 off 31 including five boundaries and four sixes, while Heinrich Klaasen added 13 from six balls including a four and a six.
Worrall claimed 2/35 from his four overs, while Jansen claimed 1/33 from four overs.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Jordan Hermann, Adam Rossington, Tom Abell, Aiden Markram (C), Tristan Stubbs, Liam Dawson, Marco Jansen, Beyers Swanepoel, Simon Harmer, Dan Worrall, Ottneil Baartman
Durban’s Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, Reece Topley, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj (C), Keemo Paul, Jon Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Richard Gleeson.