SA20 2025: Sunrisers Eastern Cape See Off Paarl Royals in Qualifier 2 to Reach Third Straight Final

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Tony de Zorzi and Jordan Hermann struck fifties as Sunrisers Eastern Cape defeated Paarl Royals by 8 wickets in SA20 2025 Qualifier 2 on Thursday (February 6) in Centurion to reach their third straight SA20 Final and maintain their push for a hat-trick of titles.

Chasing 176, Sunrisers Eastern Cape lost opener David Bedingham (9 off 8 balls) early, but De Zorzi (78 off 49 balls) and Jordan Hermann (69* off 48 balls) shared a 111-run stand for the second wicket to ensure smooth passage for the back-to-back defending champions at the SuperSport Park.

De Zorzi, who only joined the Sunrisers late into their Season 3 campaign as a replacement for the injured Patrick Kruger, delivering an innings to remember as the Proteas opener smashed 11 fours and 2 sixes during his knock.

While De Zorzi departed with 38 more runs to win, Jordan Hermann remained unbeaten alongside skipper Aiden Markram (11* off 12 balls) to help Sunrisers Eastern Cape reach the target with four balls to spare. For Royals, Kwena Maphaka and Dunith Wellalage were the wicket-takers.

It certainly was a special night for the Hermann brothers with Rubin Hermann earlier setting up the Royals' innings with 81 not out off 53 balls. Rubin's unbeaten knock included 8 fours and 3 sixes.

Rubin batted superbly in tandem with the competition's leading-run Lhuan-dre Pretorius (59 off 41 balls) as the pair added 99 runs off 64 balls for the second Royals wicket. It was Pretorius' third half-century of the competition.

The Royals were provided further impetus towards the backend of their innings by a swashbuckling Andile Phehlukwayo (22 not out off 11 balls). But the night belonged to the men in orange as they booked their now perennial place in the Betway SA20 Final.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape were written off earlier in the tournament after three successive defeats to start the campaign, but the two-time champions are now one step away from the three peat. The reigning champions will face MI Cape Town on Saturday (February 8) in the title clash at Johannesburg.

Having finished third on the SA20 points table, Sunrisers Eastern Cape had to overcome Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator just 24 hours ago at the same venue in Centurion to book their tickets to the Wanderers. MI Cape Town, on the other hand, defeated Royals in Qualifier 1 to earn direct entry to the final.