There is all to play for in the clash between the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town at St George’s Park on Sunday.
All eyes will be on MI Cape Town to see whether the defending champions can keep their campaign alive.
Robin Peterson’s side are fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot still available and require a bonus-point victory over the two-time champions to stay in contention.
All-rounder Corbin Bosch is certainly looking forward to the challenge at the home of The Orange Army.
“It’s going to be massive,” said Bosch, who was the hero with the ball for MI Cape Town against Sunrisers at Newlands on Friday evening.
“It [The Orange Army] is definitely another player on their side of the Sunrisers team but no better time to do an upset than Sunday.”
The Sunrisers have their own objectives with Adrian Birrell’s team locked in a three-way tussle with the Pretoria Capitals and Paarl Royals for top spot with each team having collected 24 points.
The Capitals are currently at the summit due to a greater number of wins, but the Sunrisers can overtake them with a victory in the final match at St George’s Park this season.
Having been a part of the playoffs since the inaugural 2023 season, Sunrisers coach Adrian Birrell is fully aware that there is plenty at stake as the top sides progress to the first playoff qualifier at Kingsmead on Wednesday.
“We really want to ensure that we got to the top two. We want to get to that qualifier and have a chance to go straight to the final,” Birrell said.
“I think that’s a big advantage. We found it in the second year going straight through. And last year, MI Cape Town got straight to the final. We had a long slog to get there. And I think it hurt us in the end when you played three games in four days. We had to do that long slog.
“And you’re not going to ever moan about getting to a final, but I thought we were a little bit fatigued in that final. So you want to give yourself a best chance to get into the top two, to give yourself a chance to go straight to the final. I think that’s a very big advantage.”
Photo: Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics
