The SA20 season draws to a close on Saturday when the top two in the regular part of the competition meet as the Sunrisers Eastern Cape go up against the Durban’s Super Giants in the final of the second campaign of the event.
The Eastern Cape know all about winning the final having done it last year and they will be looking to emulate that achievement here. Durban are in their first final and having needed two goes to get here they will be looking to make the most of the chance in front of them.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape have probably been the best team in the two years of this tournament. They won the competition last year from outside the top two but that was with traditional semi-finals and final in the playoff format, unlike this season where there was a real emphasis and reward for finishing in the top two spots in the table. Having led the way in the regular season they made full use of their first chance to reach the final which means they have had four days to prepare for this title showdown.
The key to the Sunrisers’ success both this season and last has been their bowling attack. They have been the best team in the competition with the ball and if their bowlers have one more top effort in them then they are entitled to go very close to defending the title. They aren’t overly fantastic with the bat but they have been smart enough to set their innings up for the power hitters at the back end and often that has been good enough to come through and win matches.
Durban’s Super Giants
The Durban’s Super Giants probably were the pick of the teams in the regular part of the season, so much so that they had secured a top two finish with two games to spare and as such they were able to rest and rotate their personnel for those two matches and ensure those who needed time in the middle got it which is why they ended up finishing second in the table rather than top of it. They needed two goes to make the final but eventually they made it through to this title clash.
The big part of the Durban game has been their batting. When they are good their batting is fearsome and can blow any attack out of the water but there have been times where they have crumpled in a heap and not really given themselves much of a chance. It goes without saying that they can’t afford to do that in this final. Their bowling hasn’t been brilliant but every now and again they deliver a top performance and one here would be well timed.
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Key Players
Ottniel Baartman really impressed in the qualifier between these two earlier in the week when he picked up 4-10 from his four overs and a similar bowling spell here would have the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in a fantastic position.
You would imagine if the Durban’s Super Giants are going to win this title they will need Heinrich Klaasen to deliver with the bat. His brutal burst in the second qualifier took the game away from the Joburg Super Kings and his side would like something similar from him here.
Betting
If you followed me in from the beginning of the competition you will already be on the Durban’s Super Giants to win this tournament at 5/1 which means we are on them at this price to win this match. I do think the Sunrisers are favourites for the match, purely on the recovery time they have had since they last played, but I don’t think the Super Giants are without a hope so I’m happy to let our bet on them to win the competition ride.
In truth, there isn’t a huge amount that I like in this final in terms of a bet but the 6/4 on Ottniel Baartman taking more than 1.5 wickets does appeal. He has covered this line in five of his last six matches and in the two games he has played in Cape Town he has taken 3/35 and 4/10 so there is clearly something about Newlands that he likes. He bowls at the start and the end of the innings and attacks the stumps at all times so he is a danger throughout his spell. Given how regularly he has taken two wickets in a spell the 6/4 just looks too big to me.
Tips
Back O.Baartman – Over 1.5 wickets for a 3/10 stake at 2.50 with Bet365
