Late drama lifts Super Giants as Sunrisers stumble in Gqeberha thriller

Chasing 159 on a slow, tricky surface, the Super Giants appeared well placed early on thanks to an aggressive start from Marques Ackerman. The left-hander dominated the powerplay and beyond, striking 45 from 26 balls as Durban raced to 81 for three inside nine overs. Aiden Markram, returning to his former home ground as captain of the visitors, also played his part with a brisk 25 before falling to a spectacular boundary catch by Marco Jansen.

What followed was a familiar pattern for Durban this season: a promising position giving way to a middle-order squeeze. Sunrisers' spinners Senuran Muthusamy and Tharindu Ratnayake exploited the conditions superbly, while Anrich Nortje and Jansen applied pressure with pace. Muthusamy finished with 2 for 20, including the key wicket of Jos Buttler, as the run-rate crept up and wickets fell.

The match turned nervy in the final overs. Marco Jansen conceded just three runs in the 18th, dragging the contest firmly into the balance. With 12 required from the last nine balls and only the tail left, Gerald Coetzee provided a crucial momentum shift by launching a six in the penultimate over. Although he was dismissed soon after, Evan Jones and teenage quick Kwena Maphaka kept their composure. A boundary from Jones in the final over sealed victory at 162 for eight with three balls to spare.

Earlier, Sunrisers had looked set for a stronger total after winning the toss, but Durban's disciplined bowling restricted them to 38 for two in the powerplay. The innings threatened to stall completely at 87 for five before captain Tristan Stubbs and Lewis Gregory engineered a late revival. Stubbs, who had started slowly, exploded at the death to finish unbeaten on 47 from 30 balls, while Gregory added 25 from 17. Their sixth-wicket stand of 71, including 53 runs in the final three overs, dragged Sunrisers to 158 for five.

Despite the defeat - only their second in seven matches - Sunrisers remain top of the standings, two points clear of the Joburg Super Kings. For the Super Giants, the win lifted them off the bottom of the table and into fifth, restoring belief as the tournament enters a crucial phase.

"We're in a position where every game feels like a must-win," said Markram. "It got close and niggly, but you take the points and learn from it."

Durban now travel to Boland Park to face Paarl Royals, while Sunrisers will look to bounce back against Joburg Super Kings in Gqeberha on Wednesday.

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