Paarl Royals Vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape SA20 Qualifier 2 Highlights: Hermann, De Zorzi Take SEC To Third Straight Final

Welcome to the live coverage of the SA20 2025. We are just one step away from the final and today, Paarl Royals clash with defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape to get a place in the title match against MI Cape Town

Paarl Royals captain David Miller has won the toss and decided to bat first against SunRisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 2 of the SA20 2025 at the Supersport Park in Centurion.

Paarl Royals Playing XI: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Mitchell Owen, Rubin Hermann, Dayyaan Galiem, Dunith Wellalage, David Miller(c), Dinesh Karthik(w), Andile Phehlukwayo, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka

Sunrisers Eastern Cape Playing XI: David Bedingham, Tony de Zorzi, Jordan Hermann, Tom Abell, Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs(w), Marco Jansen, Craig Overton, Liam Dawson, Ottneil Baartman, Richard Gleeson

The winner of this match will go to the final of the tournament where MI Cape Town is awaiting them.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the two-time defending champions of the tournament, put a horrible start behind to qualify to the play-offs and now remain just a win from their third straight final.

Paarl Royals, who have qualified for the play-offs in both the editions, are yet to play a final and will hope today they finally get their ticket to the trophy clash.

Here we go then. Lhuan-dre Pretorius and the hero of BBL this year Mitch Owen are in the middle to get things going for Paarl. Craig Overton with the ball for Sunrisers.

Jansen strikes again. Perhaps the best player of the tournament is continuing his form yet again. BBL hero Owen can not open his account tonight and Sunrisers draw first blood. Rubin Hermann has made a good start with two boundaries to put some pressure back on Jansen.

A good powerplay for the Royals. They lost Owen for a Duck but Pretorius and Hermann are going well and they have ensured there is no further damage. They have added just 45 runs in the powerplay but this is not looking like a 200 surface. So, both sides will be fairly happy with what they have done here.

This partnership is making it tough for the Sunrisers. Hermann and Pretorius are now set and will be looking to launch the attack. With a lot of batting to come, warning bells are ringing for the Sunrisers. The Royals will be targeting over 180 for sure with nine wickets still in hand.

Craig Overton dismisses Lhuan dre Pretorius much to the relief of the Sunriesrs. But David Miller is the new man in so the Royals are still in a comfortable position. Jansen is having an off day with the ball. He took a wicket early but has conceded 32 in three overs. Hermann also is nearing his fifty.

Sunrisers have made a comeback here. Last 23 balls, they have conceded just 21 runs and have removed Pretorius, Miller and Karthik, all three dangerous batters of the Royals. Hermann is still there after crossing 50 but he would need some help from the other end as well.

A brilliant finish for the Royals and they have posted a very formidable total after choosing to bat first. Phehlukwayo (22* off 11) with a crucial quickfire cameo to help his side. But the star of the show was Rubin Hermann (81* off 53). A brilliant inniings from his bat has been the reason that the Royals bowlers would now be confident.

For the Sunrisers, it was an off day for most of their bowlers and to add to the misery Ottniel Baartman got injured midway through his last over as well. Markram and Overton were the only two economical bowler for the defending champions.

Welcome back again. SunRisers Eastern Cape need 176 runs in 20 overs to get into their third straight final. Paarl Royals need to bowl well and this total should be defendable but the Sunrisers are filled with batting firepower. An interesting chase coming up.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape need 150 runs in 102 balls

A good start for the Sunrisers with de Zorzi taking the charge. He has hit Fortuin for three boundaries in the left-arm spinner's first two overs. Bedingham has hit a boundary as well. Good beginning but a long way to go.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape need 125 runs in 84 balls

Jordan Hermann has got going in the last over of the powerplay. He is having a tough time this tournament but today he has started well. Starts the final over of the powerplay with a four and a six off Mujeeb and Sunrisers have crossed 50 in the powerplay. A really good start to the chase.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape need 96 runs in 60 balls

Some tight bowling from the Royals and things have been brought under control. De Zorzi still going good but Jordan Hermann needs to get going. He is batting just above run-a-ball at this moment. A wicket might be around the corner if the pressure keeps piling up.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape need 39 runs in 36 balls

What a time to show up. Both de Zorzi and Hermann have added more than 100 runs tonight and the former was not even picked for this tournament while the latter was in a woeful form. They have almost killed the game just the final touch is remaining. Can they land the final blow or the Royals have a trick up their sleeves?

Sunrisers Eastern Cape need 19 runs in 18 balls

It was Rubin Hermann show in the first innings and now it is his brother Jordan who is having a great time. He has raised his fifty and the result now seems like a formality. Just run-a-ball needed for the Sunrisers to enter their third straight final. Markram is giving Jordan company.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape win by 8 wkts

Three in three for Sunrisers Eastern Cape. they have qualified for their third straight final and that too after a hat-trick of losses at the start of the tournamment. Jordan Hermann returns with an unbeaten 69 while Markram hits the winning boundary.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape have booked a ticket to the final and Paarl Royals who were the tournament leaders for quite some time have been knocked out.

Tony de Zorzi hit a fantastic half-century to lay the foundation of Sunrisers' chase of 176 before Jordan Hermann stayed till the end to finish things off. Both de Zorziand Hermann got fifites and have now taken Sunrisers just a win away from defending their title for the second straight year. Paarl Royals were taken to 175/4 via brilliant half-centuries from Lhuan dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann but it was not enough.

So, it will be Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs MI Cape Town on February 8 in the final of the SA20 2025.

Tony de Zorzi is the Player of the Match for his outstanding innings. He smashed 78 off 49 balls with 11 fours and two sixes. A brilliant innings from a man who has come to this tournament as a replacement player.

The show is over for tonight. We will be back on February 8 with the coverage of the final. Do not forget to tune in. See You!