Put in to bat first, the Sunrisers produced a polished all-round display to post a competitive 186/4 from their 20 overs.

Jordan Hermann was in destructive mood, smashing an unbeaten 62 off just 28 balls, peppering the boundary with five fours and four sixes. Quinton de Kock provided the fireworks up top with a brisk 42 off 24 balls, including three fours and two sixes, while Jonny Bairstow and Matthew Breetzke chipped in with solid knocks of 31 apiece.

Jordan Hermann. Photo: Cricinfo

Former Knights seamer Ottneil Baartman was the pick of the Paarl bowlers, finishing with 2/40 from his four overs.

If the Sunrisers’ batting was clinical, their bowling was downright ruthless.

Paarl Royals were skittled for the lowest total in SA20 history, bundled out for a paltry 49 in just 11.5 overs. Asa Tribe top-scored with 14, while Kyle Verreynne managed 11 in an innings that never got going.

Anrich Nortjé was sensational with the ball, tearing through the Royals’ top order to claim 4/13 in three fiery overs. Tharindu Ratnayake and Adam Milne provided excellent support, each picking up two wickets.

The “Uitenhage Express”, who is continuing his comeback from a long-term injury, says his focus is firmly on building momentum as he targets a place in the Proteas squad for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

“Hopefully I get selected, but for now it’s just about building and taking it game by game, day by day,” said Nortjé.

Anrich Nortjé and Matthew Breetzke celebrate another wicket. Photo: Cricinfo

“I had a really good build-up during the CSA T20 Challenge, then the camp helped as well, and getting the call-up for the India series topped it off. I’d call it the ideal build-up.

“From here it’s about executing, working on one or two things, and keeping that momentum going in a busy schedule. Just staying clear-headed, focused, and moving forward from where I was a few months ago to now.”

Meanwhile at SuperSport Park in Centurion, the Joburg Super Kings also got their SA20 campaign up and running with a solid 22-run victory over the Pretoria Capitals.

Rilee Rossouw. Photo: Cricinfo

Rilee Rossouw led the charge with 48 off 33 balls, while Wiaan Mulder added a valuable 43 off 28 as JSK posted 168/6.

Tymal Mills was outstanding with the ball, returning figures of 2/17 from four overs, while Codi Yusuf and former SA U19 captain Bryce Parsons claimed two wickets each.

In reply, despite an opening stand of 71 inside nine overs, the Capitals were restricted to 146/9. Parsons top-scored with 41 off 30, while fellow opener Will Smeed made 34.

Potchefstroom-born all-rounder Duan Jansen stole the show, ripping through the middle order with superb figures of 4/23.

Action continues on Sunday at 15:30 when the Durban Super Giants take on the defending champions, MI Cape Town, for the second time this weekend. DSG edged MICT by 15 runs at Newlands on Friday, and another cracker is on the cards when the sides meet at Kingsmead in Durban.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek