SEC VS DSG FINAL

Aiden Markram collects the trophy and joins his teammates on the podium. The fireworks go off as Markram lifts the silverware for the second consecutive time. The proud owner of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape joins the celebrations, and the party is just getting started for the men in orange. The celebrations will go on in the Sunrisers camp until the sun rises the next morning. And with that, we bid farewell to an exhilarating journey that was the second edition of the SA20 League. The action never really comes to a halt in the Rainbow Nation as it gears up to host the grand finale of the 2024 Men's Under-19 World Cup, between cricketing giants India and Australia. The summit clash will take place on Sunday, 11th of February and it will begin at 1.30 pm IST (8 am GMT). See you then. Take care and cheers!

It is now time for the players and the support staff of the victorious Sunrisers Eastern Cape to walk up to the podium to receive their winner's medals. Last but not least, it is their skipper, Aiden Markram, who walks up to receive his medal, followed by a short chat with the host broadcaster. He says that it is a great feeling to be in the final and for the guys to walk out and play the game they did is a proud moment as they put in a lot of hard work. Adds that in every game you need to be at your best and it was nice to build momentum in the middle phase of the tournament and they ended on a high. Mentions that they were brilliant in the field throughout and the bowlers set things up as well and the batters too chipped in when required. On his spectacular catch earlier in the tournament catch, he says that it feels nice but there's always a bit of luck involved. Mentions that his job was made easy by this group of players and you can't ask for more.

Next up, the players and the management staff of Durban's Super Giants are called up to the podium to receive their runners-up medals. Right at the end, is their skipper Keshav Maharaj who walks up now to have a chat. He starts by saying that at the start if you gave us the final, we would have taken it. Mentions that it was a big turnaround from last year. Adds that there were a lot of positives to build on for next season. Feels that they were sloppy in the field and gave away 20-30 runs too many. Reckons that it was a good wicket but losing wickets at regular intervals did not help their cause. Shares that the coaching staff have put in a hard effort as have the owners. States that the boys have made his job easier and ends by thanking the fans for turning out in numbers and for their support.

Heinrich Klaasen is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his exceptional run with the bat for Durban's Super Giants. He says that he is a bit disappointed but it has been a good tournament and their players played really well and in the end, the best team won. Adds that his bat swing has become consistent over the last two years and hopes that it continues as a lot of hard work has been put into it. Adds that the players and the people behind the scenes also put a lot of hard work in and it is a thankless job and ends by applauding the crowd that has been brilliant throughout the tournament.

Marco Jansen receives the Rising Star of the Season Award for his stellar showing for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape win the Spirit of the Game Award for upholding the spirit during this second edition of the SA20 League. The Head Coach of the Sunrisers, Adrian Birrell walks up to receive the award on behalf of the team. He says that they tried to play the game in the right way and they had good characters in the team. Mentions that the talk was about fighting hard on the field and it showed. Shares that they worked quite hard in the first week during the team bonding activities. Adds that they had a good time over the last few weeks and hopes that the players keep in touch with each other and hopes to meet them again in Sunrisers colours.

Now, the match officials walk up to the podium to receive their respective medals. The officiating has been exemplary, not only in the final but throughout the entire competition.

Tom Abell is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his blistering knock at the top that set things in motion for the win. He says that it feels incredible and to win it again after winning it last year is phenomenal and it shows the hard work that was put in. Adds that partnerships are one thing they emphasized as a group and he was able to play a bit freely at the top and to end with over 200 was phenomenal. Mentions that he enjoyed his time and to be a part of this group feels really great.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Durban's Super Giants' stand-out batter, Heinrich Klaasen is in for a chat. He says that it is a bittersweet moment to get into the final but the better team won and applauds the Sunrisers on the win. Adds that it is tough to put the blame on playing an extra game and the opposition just bowled extremely well like they have done all tournament. Mentions that it is difficult to explain what happened to them in the Final and on his own batting, he says that he is feeling good and is trying to improve.

Daniel Worrall says that the lads poured their heart into this competition and it feels great. On the fans, he says that it feels crazy and to have such a great crowd at a neutral venue is amazing. Adds that it was a great mix of domestic and international stars and finishes that he is off to Dubai the next morning to play more cricket.

Liam Dawson says that it is his first time and that enjoying the crowd is the best feeling. Adds that it was a bit tough for the spinners in this game but they won, so, it is all about the party now. Adds that Markram did really well as a captain. Mentions that the openers have been brilliant all tournament and set the final up really well.

Simon Harmer is the next player to be interviewed. He says that it has been a special year and this is the credit they get. Adds that the coach and the captain are very particular and Aiden Markram gives them the boost in the dressing room. Mentions that the catch Markram took a few games ago was the highlight of the tournament and on sharing the dressing room with Daniel Worrall, he says that it is always good as he has known him for a long time.

Ottniel Baartman is up next for a chat. He says that he came back from injuries and he feels good. Adds that a lot of credit goes to all their bowlers and they made his life easy. Adds that he does want to play for his country and it is a big honour. On Dale Steyn, he says that it was like having a best friend and he helped them with field placements as well.

The man of the moment, Marco Jansen is down for a chat. He says that it feels unbelievable and they batted and bowled brilliantly and they were just superb. Adds that they thought 180-185 was par so were happy to have got over 200. Mentions that it is all about hitting the areas and executing the plans.

Earlier in the game, it was the skipper of Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Aiden Markram, who won the all-important toss in the final. The Sunrisers were dealt an early blow in the form of Dawid Malan. However, Durban's Super Giants were ordinary with the new ball, which meant that Jordan Hermann and Tom Abell were able to lay a solid platform. Having survived a close call early in the innings, which could have gone either way, Abell made it count and kept finding boundaries with regularity, as did Hermann. The skipper of the Super Giants, Keshav Maharaj, then went bang, bang, to remove both set batters in the same over. Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs joined hands to ensure that the Sunrisers did not lose their way due to those twin blows. Both batters mixed caution with aggression to tick along before switching gears at the death. Stubbs' 56 and Markram's 42 allowed the Sunrisers to get to 204 in their 20 overs. Time for a few player interviews...

As far as Durban's Super Giants, it was a final that none of them would have envisioned, and it went horribly wrong for them. 205 runs to chase is a tough ask, and to do that in a final is even tougher. At the halfway mark, the Super Giants had their backs against the wall and needed a good start from the openers to stand a chance. It was a far-from-ideal start for the Super Giants as Quinton de Kock perished early and JJ Smuts and Bhanuka Rajapaksa followed him into the hut soon after. Wiaan Mulder began to counter-attack his way out of trouble but could not find much support from Matthew Breetzke, who had a real struggle. Mulder succumbed to the pressure and Heinrich Klaasen's departure for a golden duck was the final nail in the coffin for the Super Giants, who were eventually bowled out for 115.

Runs on the board are always a significant advantage in any final, and when you post more than 200, you often find yourself in a winning position, just as Sunrisers Eastern Cape did. Having finished strongly with the bat, the Sunrisers were able to take that momentum into their bowling effort. Daniell Worrall set the tone for them with a wicket in his second over before Marco Jansen backed it up with two wickets in his first over. Simon Harmer chipped in the middle phase to pile the misery on the Super Giants. However, it was Ottniel Baartman who sealed the final for the Sunrisers, accounting for two mainstays of the Super Giants in Matthew Breetzke and Heinrich Klaasen in one over. Brought back into the attack to clean up the tail, Marco Jansen answered the skipper's call and finished with a five-wicket haul to secure a comprehensive win by 89 runs.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! The Sunrisers Eastern Cape have once again proven their dominance by successfully defending their title as the undisputed champions of the SA20 League. The celebrations have begun, and one can only imagine the jubilant scenes in Gqeberha, the town where they are based. As for Keshav Maharaj and his Durban's Super Giants, the journey has been one of redemption after missing out on a playoff spot last season. However, they just were not able to turn up in the final and faced an unfortunate stumble at the final hurdle.