Twitter Reactions: Aiden Markram's century guides Sunrisers Eastern Cape to final

Sunrisers Eastern Cape beat Joburg Super Kings by 14 runs in the second semi-final clash of the SA20 2023 to reach the final on February 9. Captain Aiden Markram led by example with a century in the crucial clash to help the Sunrisers put up a big total of 213/5 on the board. Reeza Hendricks smashed 96 off 54 in return but Roelof van der Merve's two for 23 proved the difference between the two sides. 

Joburg Super Kings' skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and chose to field first at Centurion's SuperSport Park, with Nandre Burger coming in for Kyle Simmonds. Sunrisers made two changes to their playing XI that lost against the Super Kings in their last group-stage match with Ottniel Baartman and Jordan Cox coming in.

Lizaad Williams dismissed Temba Bavuma for a golden duck in the second over to justify du Plessis' decision to bowl first. He then removed Adam Rossington in the same over, and the Sunrisers were struggling at 15/2 in two overs.  But the Sunrisers survived an early fall, with Markram and Jordan Hermann pulling off a crucial 99-run partnership for the third wicket.

Hermann scored 48 off 36 before Lizaad's brilliance in the 14th over. But Markram kept piling on the runs from the other end and completed his first SA20 century. He scored 100 off 58 with six fours and six sixes before getting out to Lizaad Williams in the 19th over. 

Cox smashed 18* off six, including 17 runs in the last over, to guide the Sunrisers to a big 213/5 total. Lizaad proved a best bowler for the Super Kings with four for 36 and a brilliant run-out to dismiss Hermann.

While defending a big total, Sisanda Magala dismissed du Plessis, the leading run-getter for the Super Kings, on the innings' very first delivery. Marco Jansen dismissed Leus du Plooy in the next over for a duck to ensure a great start for the Sunrisers.

But Reeza Hendricks kept the Super Kings alive with small but crucial partnerships with Matthew Wade and Donovan Ferreira in the middle overs. Merwe took Donovan's big wicket in the 16th over when the Super Kings needed 83 runs from 29 balls. But Reeza went ballistic with big sixes and Romario Shepherd partnered him with a crucial 38* off 14 knock. 

Reeza smashed three sixes in the 18th over and Shepherd pulled off two sixes and a four in the 19th over to drag the Super Kings an inch closer to the target. But Baartman bowled a match-winning last over by conceding just 11 runs to boost the Sunrisers to a 14-run win and book a place in the final of the SA20 2023.

Here's how Twitter reacted to Sunrisers Eastern Cape's win over Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 2nd Semi-final:

Aiden Markram led from the front with a brilliant captain’s 100!

Over to you now Stubbsy... #Betway #SA20 | @Betway_India @AidzMarkram pic.twitter.com/LgiontbB0r

— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) February 9, 2023

Heinrich Klaasen hundred in SA20.

Adil Rashid picked 13 wickets in SA20.

Aiden Markram hundred in Semis of SA20.

Mayank Agarwal 249 in Semis of Ranji Trophy.

- SRH players in form ahead of IPL 2023.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 9, 2023

“This part of my life, this little part, is called happiness” 🧡

Tears of happiness for Markram's dad in the stands. #SEC #SunrisersEasternCape #SA20 #JSKvSEC #PlayWithFire pic.twitter.com/kLBpKcfEUq

— Sunrisers Eastern Cape (@SunrisersEC) February 9, 2023

Aiden Markram standing tall in the Semi-final of SA 20, he smashed 100 from 58 balls including 6 fours & 6 sixes. pic.twitter.com/m4R37V1E7h

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 9, 2023

Not sure if that's Lizaad Williams or Dragon Williams!
Ball of the tournament #SA20

pic.twitter.com/Zm8APsk2G0

— Himanshu (@himanshux_) February 9, 2023

What a knock from @AidzMarkram - sensational!!
What I do want to applaud though too, is the way in which #LizaadWilliams ran up to Aiden to congratulate him after taking his wicket. #respect #humility #sportsmanship.
Great bowling young man! #SA20 #JSKvSEC #cricket

— Sean Willard (@seanwillard) February 9, 2023

Common mate, don't be so hard on yourself...you have bowled so well throughout the tournament...and what an effort by Reeza Hendricks...🔥🔥🫡 pic.twitter.com/lw2qIt6rav

— Shawstopper (@shawstopper_100) February 9, 2023

What a knock from Reeza Hendricks.

He finally found form similar to his purple patch from last year. It's just unfortunate that it was in JSK's last game.

He did deserve the 100 though and should be proud that he brought his team closer than most thought they would get.#SA20

— ExcelBoy (@Shaun_Analytics) February 9, 2023

Roelof van der Merwe in Semis

2009 IPL vs CSK 4 overs 23 runs 1 wicket
2023 SAT20 vs JSK 4 overs 23 runs 2 wicket

Our Guy is cooking at the age of 38.

— Sai (@akakrcb6) February 9, 2023

Sad ending for #JSK in #SA20 :(
A deserving 100 missed for Hendricks and runs leaked in the last 5–6 overs really hurt them. A fantastic comeback from the bottom of the table to No. 2. So close, yet not quite there. Promising talents. See you next year. Faf 🔥. It’s #IPL time.

— Sumukh Ananth  (@sumukh_ananth) February 9, 2023