Narrow win keeps DSG's playoff hopes alive

Durban's Super Giants have kept their SA20 2025-26 playoffs hopes alive with a narrow two-wicket win over table-toppers Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Gqeberha on Sunday. Set a target of 159 after a late burst from SEC, DSG were off to a flier before losing the plot in the middle. The tail, however, managed to hold their nerve to script a thrilling win - first for them since their season opener - and keep their campaign afloat with two more games to go. A late flourish helped SEC recover after losing wickets at regular intervals for the better part of their innings. After opting to bat first, both Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow fell cheaply inside four overs, trying to take on the new-ball attack. At 26/2, Matthew Breetzke (20 off 22) and Jordan Hermann (29 off 24) got together to steady the ship with a brief 38-run stand that came in 6.5 overs.

Both of them, however, failed to convert their starts and a mini collapse of 3 for 23 followed suit where both the set batters and Marco Jansen fell trying one too many aggressive shots upfront. Skipper Tristan Stubbs then combined with Lewis Gregory to once again stabalise the innings.

The pair took their time to settle in before unleashing at the backend. Stubbs, in particular, turned it around in the final-three overs going from 11 off 18 to a 47* in just 30 to help SEC get past the 150-run mark. As many as 53 came off the final 18 deliveries in their innings, helping the side finish with some momentum.

That was quickly undone by a brisk opening stand of 49 in just four overs by DSG openers. Aiden Markram (25 off 13) and Marques Ackerman (45 off 26) both hit half a dozen boundaries each, setting the tone for the chase before Senuran Muthusamy made a timely incision. After Markram's departure, Ackerman found company in Jos Buttler, who chipped in a run-a-ball 22 on a wicket that wasn't the easiest to score on.

A brief stutter followed where DSG lost four wickets for 36 runs in the space of five overs to create panic in their dugout. That included the wickets of both the set batters, and Heinrich Klaasen who endured another lean outing.

The tail kept chipping at the total despite those regular strikes but it went right down to the final over where Evan Jones and Kwena Maphaka kept their calm to take their side over the line for their first points from an outright win since their first game of the season.

Brief scores: Sunrisers Eastern Cape 158/5 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 47*, Jordan Hermann 29; Noor Ahmad 1-20, Sunil Narine 1-24) lost to Durban's Super Giants 162/8 in 19.3 overs (Marques Ackerman 45, Aiden Markram 25; Senuran Muthusamy 2-20, Anrich Nortje 2-34) by 2 wickets