Twitter Reactions: Aiden Markram's half-century, Tristan Stubbs' cameo help Sunrisers Eastern Cape claim first win of SA20

James Fuller scored the winning runs for Sunrisers Eastern Cape by notching up back-to-back boundaries in the final over.

By Vaishnavi Thiagarajan Iyer

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Aiden Markram and Sarel Erwee
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Aiden Markram and Sarel Erwee. (Photo Source: Twitter/SA20)

The ninth match of the SA20 tournament witnessed MI Cape Town and Sunrisers Eastern Cape lock horns at St George's Park in Gqeberha on January 16, Monday. The contest went down the wire, quite literally, as both teams put in massive efforts to win it. But in the end, Sunrisers emerged victorious as they edged past Cape Town to clinch a final-over win.

MI Cape Town did not get off to the desired start as they lost two crucial wickets in the powerplay as Ryan Rickleton and Grant Roelofsen were dismissed cheaply. Local hero Dewald Brevis, who opened the batting for Cape Town struggled to get going this time around and was eventually dismissed post the powerplay for a 28-ball 15.

The top-order failed to put up a remarkable show as MI Cape Town were under misery in the early stages of the game. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s seamers did a brilliant job in restricting the opposition batters while also managing to pick wickets regularly. It was then the 59-run partnership between Rassie van der Dussen and George Linde which kept Cape Town’s innings afloat.

George saved his side’s innings by notching up a crucial half-century under pressure as he batted at a strike rate of 225 and racked up five sixes and four fours to reach 63*(28) at the end of the innings. Courtesy of his knock, MI Cape Town managed to overcome the blows handed by the opposition as they posted a decent 158/8 at the end of their 20-overs quota.

Tristan Stubbs to Sunrisers' rescue

Cape Town’s all-rounder Sam Curran got to business from the word go as he dismissed Sunrisers’ opening batter Adam Rossington on the very first delivery of the second innings. Curran did not stop there, as he returned for his next over and dismissed Jon Jon Smuts as the Sunrisers were reduced to 13/2 at the end of the third over.

Aiden Markram played the captain’s knock and pulled Sunrisers’ innings back on track with his well-composed half-century. He was very well supported by Sarel Erwee as the duo shared a magnificent 92-run partnership for the third wicket, and built up the innings beautifully under pressure. The two were then dismissed consecutively in the 13th and 14th over by Rashid Khan and Odean Smith as Sunrisers lost the momentum in the game.

But young Tristan Stubbs pulled off a miracle with his quick-fire 18-ball 30 and took the game deep as everything came down to the final over, with Sunrisers needing five runs to win off the final six deliveries. The game became even more intense as Stubbs was dismissed on the first ball of the last over by Odean Smith. James Fuller, who replaced Stubbs, found the gap brilliantly and notched up two consecutive fours to take Sunrisers to a brilliant four-wicket win.

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SA20 2024Sunrisers Eastern CapeMI Cape TownAiden MarkramSam CurranTristan StubbsOdean Smith