Abell, bowlers enable SEC's first win of season

 Abell and the bowlers were the stars as SEC secured their first win of the season in a thrilling match. Abell played a key role with the bat, providing stability and setting a solid foundation for the team. However, it was the bowlers who truly dominated, delivering tight spells and taking crucial wickets to limit the opposition's scoring opportunities. Their disciplined performance and ability to strike at key moments helped SEC clinch a well-deserved victory, marking a strong start to their campaign. This win not only boosts the team's confidence but also sets the tone for the rest of the season.

Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape put an end to their woeful start to the season - a string of three defeats - with a thumping 58-run victory over Durban Super Giants in Durban. Tom Abell's brisk half-century, coupled with Marco Jansen's late surge laid the foundation before the bowling triumvirate of Liam Dawson, Richard Gleeson and Ottneil Baartman picked two wickets each to deny the hosts in chase.

Aiden Markram decided to bat first on what he thought was a 'pretty dry surface' but it came with a bit of slugglishness. Naveen Ul Haq took out opener David Bedingham early but Zak Crawley and Abell got their side going in the first half of the innings. Noor Ahmad then rattled the batting side with three wickets in two overs - a double-wicket 10th over with the scalps of Crawley and Aiden Markram and then the dismissal of Jordan Hermann in the 12th. Abell pushed on, and found an able ally in Jansen as they added 54 crucial runs for the fifth wicket off just 38 deliveries.

Noor picked his fourth wicket of the evening when he dismissed Abell for 57 in the 18th over but as many as 71 runs came in the last six overs - with Stubbs chipping in too (15 off 8). They took the Eastern Cape to 165/5, a total that proved to be more than sufficient for their first victory.

Matthew Breetzke and Bryce Parsons gave Durban a solid start to chase but were undone by a bit of hesitation on a run and a good throw from Markram that caught Parsons short of his crease. Kane Williamson, who made a 40-ball 60 in his previous outing, fell for three in Liam Dawson's first over - giving the bowler a return catch. Dawson struck again in his next over, trapping Breetzke leg before to leave the chasers head to the halfway mark at 54/3.

Durban managed to add 50 runs in the next five overs but for the loss of two further wickets - of Heinrich Klaasen and Quinton de Kock. They needed the kind of late flourish that the Eastern Cape enjoyed but it was not to be as wickets tumbled quickly at the death. Jansen dismissed Jamie Smith and then Gleeson picked two in a three-wicket over that left Eastern Cape on the brink. Baartman finished the job by cleaning up Keshav Maharaj on the first ball of the 19th over.

Brief Scores:Sunrisers Eastern Cape 165/5 in 20 overs (Tom Abell 57, Marco Jansen 36*; Noor Ahmad 4-25) beat Durban Super Giants 107 in 18.1 overs (Liam Dawson 2-18, Richard Gleeson 2-12, Ottneil Baartman 2-17) by 58 runs

Tom Abell made 57 as defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape beat Durban's Super Giants by 58 runs for their first win of the 2025 SA20.

Eastern Cape, who had lost their first three games, posted 165-5 with Abell's 57 supported by Zak Crawley's 38 off 29 balls and Marco Jansen's 36 not out.

Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad was superb in picking up 4-25.

Durban struggled throughout their chase falling to 54-4 and then losing their final six wickets for just 13 runs to be bowled out for 107 in 18.1 overs.

Richard Gleeson claimed 2-12, Ottneil Baartman 2-17 and Liam Dawson 2-18.

Eastern Cape remain bottom of the six-team table despite the bonus-point win while Durban are fifth.

Saturday sees a double-header between Pretoria Capitals and Joe Root's Paarl Royals (11:00 GMT) and MI Cape Town v Joburg Super Kings (15:30 GMT).