Durban Super Giants vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape Prediction: Super Giants were handed their first defeat

Durban Super Giants and Sunrisers Eastern Cape are going head to head in the 12th Match of South Africa T20 League at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium Cricket Ground, Durban, South Africa on 20 Jan 2024. Super Giants were handed their first defeat in the last game. Who will win this game of cricket?

Durban has emerged victorious in three consecutive matches against MI Cape Town, the Sunrisers, and Joburg Super Kings. However, they faced a defeat at the hands of the Pretoria Capitals. Despite this setback, the Super Giants are still considered as strong contenders for the title. Their upcoming match against reigning champions Eastern Cape will be a challenging one. Nicholas Pooran, the West Indian batter, has left Durban's campaign to play for MI Emirates in the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates. Marcus Stoinis, an Australian all-rounder, has taken his place in the Super Kings' XI and is expected to contribute with both bat and ball.

Heinrich Klaasen, Matthew Breetzke, and Jon-Jon Smuts have been the leading run-scorers for Durban in the ongoing SA20 season. They will play a crucial role in this fixture, especially in the absence of Pooran. Klaasen was the highest run-scorer for the team last year and has already scored two half-centuries this season.

Among the bowlers, Reece Topley has been impressive for the Super Giants, taking seven wickets in this year's SA20. As one of the top left-arm seamers in the tournament, the team will rely on Topley to lead the bowling attack. Captain Keshav Maharaj's spin bowling skills will be a valuable asset in the Durban conditions.

MP Breetzke, Kyle Mayers, Q de Kock (wk), H Klaasen, JT Smuts, MP Stoinis, Dwaine Pretorius, KA Maharaj (C), Naveen-ul-Haq, Keemo Paul, RJW Topley

The Sunrisers are heading into this match following a draw with the Joburg Super Kings, a defeat to the Super Giants, and a victory over MI Cape Town. They are determined to seek revenge for their loss to Durban a week ago on the opposition's homeground. The addition of England batsman Dawid Malan to the Sunrisers' team is a significant boost for the rest of their campaign. He immediately made an impact by scoring a match-winning 53 against Cape Town recently. Local player Jordan Hermann also gained attention with a brilliant century during the tournament. The Sunrisers' bowling resources are currently a concern as they have only managed to take eight wickets in the SA20 season, with seamers Daniel Worrall and Ottniel Baartman accounting for six of them. The team is facing difficulties without seamers Sisanda Magala and Craig Overton, who withdrew just before the start of the competition. There is a lot of pressure on the Eastern Cape team to defend their title successfully after winning the inaugural SA20 last year. Although their 2024 campaign had a sluggish start, a second consecutive win in this match could put them back on track.

Jordan Hermann, DJ Malan, AK Markram (C), T Stubbs (wk), TB Abell, LA Dawson, M Jansen, SR Harmer, OEG Baartman, Daniel Worrall, PE Kruger

Durban has been the host for two SA20 matches this season. On both occasions, the Super Giants won the toss and chose to either bat or bowl first, resulting in victories for them. The first innings totals in this season's SA20 at Durban's ground were 207 and 145. A competitive first innings total of around 170 or more can be achieved here. Despite the conditions being favorable for seam bowling, it may be worth considering playing two specialized spinners at this venue and even opening the bowling with one. The weather forecast predicts no rain on the day of the match, ensuring a complete fixture. The Super Giants from Durban hold a stronger position compared to the Sunrisers Eastern Cape team. This is due to their superior bowling depth and the advantage of playing on their home ground.