Markram, Stubbs lead Sunrisers E Cape to 175-5

Aiden Markram led from the front with a smart innings of 82 from just 49 balls to lead the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a highly competitive total of 175-5 after choosing to bat first in their SA20 match against the Paarl Royals at Boland Park in Paarl on Saturday afternoon.

A typically slow pitch made cover driving difficult and there were precious few boundaries on offer but Markram and Tristan Stubbs (28* from 26 balls) stitched together a vital fourth wicket partnership of 102 having slipped to a precarious 69-3 in the ninth over.

Only the fullest length deliveries could be hit straight with confidence otherwise the batsmen were required to work hard for their runs which is exactly what the two Proteas stars did.

Markram managed just seven fours before seamer Dayyaan Galiem bowled far too full and was straight driven for a pair of sixes before Kwena Maphaka’s brave back-of-the-hand slower ball induced a sliced drive to long off.

Aiden Markram leads from the front for the Sunrisers 🫡#BetwaySA20 #PRvSEC #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/NLGMm9L5Vd

— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 11, 2025

Stubbs admitted between innings that he “…couldn’t hit the ball off the square” although he did manage one six during his otherwise laboured innings.

Earlier Englishman Zak Crawley’s 27 from 18 balls ended unfortunately when a thick inside-edge against Afghan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman ricocheted off his back pad and into the gloves of ‘keeper Dinesh Karthik while Jordan Hermann (10) toe-ended a drive against the same bowler to Joe Root at cover.

Another Englishman, Tom Abell (10), was run out after an excellent throw from Lungi Ngidi but Markram ensured that his team would post the highest SA20 score at the country’s lowest scoring venue.

It is the home side’s first match of the competition but they have the chance to put a second dent in the Sunrisers’ defence of their title following an embarrassing 97-run defeat to MI Cape Town in the opening fixture in which they were dismissed for just 77.

Former England captain Root made his debut for the Royals as an opener and is joined by countryman Sam Hain. Veteran Indian wicketkeeper Karthik also made his debut while the Sunrisers made one change with seamer Ottneil Baartman replacing allrounder Beyers Swanepoel.

PAARL ROYALS: Joe Root, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sam Hain, Mitchell Van Buuren, David Miller (captain), Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Dayyaan Galiem, Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi

SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: Zak Crawley, Jordan Hermann, Tom Abell, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs (wkt), David Bedingham, Marco Jansen, Liam Dawson, Simon Harmer, Richard Gleeson, Ottneil Baartman