SA20 qualifier 2 preview: Revived Royals aim to topple Sunrisers in Wanderers decider

The SA20 Season 4 Qualifier 2 will be a repeat of last season as Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Paarl Royals face off at the Wanderers on Friday evening for a place in Sunday’s coveted final.

Sunrisers were comfortable victors at Centurion last season, winning by eight wickets, but the tables have turned this year heading into the all-important clash.



Two-time champions Sunrisers must shake off a defeat to Pretoria Capitals in Qualifier 1, while the Royals dismantled Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator at Centurion on Thursday and will be buzzing with confidence at the Bullring, unlike 12 months ago when the situation was reversed.

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The Royals’ victory was particularly significant as it was their first SA20 knockout win in five attempts. They also showed strong character by bouncing back after losing to the same JSK side earlier in the week in their final group match.

“It was a tough one to take, probably not one we wanted to be playing in the third and fourth playoff after the first eight games,” said Royals all-rounder Asa Tribe.

“We thought we could get right into the top two, but we ended up in this position and fought back after a tough loss in the last game.

“The momentum is with us. They’re coming off a loss. We’re flying high.”

The Royals have also strengthened their squad with West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell, who could add significant firepower to their middle order.

Powell replaces mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was called up for international duty with Afghanistan.

Sunrisers, meanwhile, find themselves in the unfamiliar position of having lost a playoff match, but assistant coach Russell Domingo is confident they can bounce back on Friday evening.


“We know the areas we need to get better at, as coaches as well. There are certain things we can do a little differently, so there are good lessons for all of us,” Domingo said.

“We know we are a quality side and have played really good cricket. I think all the games we’ve lost have gone down to the last over. We’ve been competitive in all our losses. They’ve all been really close.

“So we’re not far off. Nothing drastic, nothing major, just a little bit of tinkering here and there.”

The winner of Friday evening’s Qualifier 2 will face Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 Season 4 final at Newlands on Sunday, January 25.


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