Markram guides Sunrisers Eastern Cape to 149-7

Aiden Markram battled desperately to keep his side afloat with a magnificent 68 not out as the Sunrisers Eastern Cape struggled initially before posting a total of 149-7 after being asked to bat first in their SA20 match against the Pretoria Capitals at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Wednesday.

Markram collected two sixes and a four in a total of 19 runs from the 19th over to completely transform the innings – his six over extra cover against Australian left-arm seamer Jason Behrendorff possibly the shot of the tournament so far having pulled the previous delivery for another maximum over square leg.

Markram faced 55 balls for his 68 runs and gathered five fours before his two sixes but it was the rebuilding of a potential crisis which impressed as much as his ball-striking.

The innings was in immediate in immediate trouble when Zak Crawley (0) edged the second ball from Jason Behrendorff (1-34) to ‘keeper Kyle Verreynne and reached it’s nadir at 53-5 at the halfway point.

David Bedingham (8) was trapped lbw by Eathan Bosch and Englishman Tom Abell (6) pulled a Bosch short ball straight into the hands of Senuran Muthusamy at short fine leg.

Another Englishman, Will Jacks, snared Jordan Hermann (9) lbw and bowled Tristan Stubbs (4) to finish with 2-18 from three overs before Markram finally found an ally in Marco Jansen who struck 24 from 20 balls in a sixth-wicket stand of 39 to revive the Sunrisers' hopes.

But the innings was transformed even further in the final three overs with yet another Englishman, Liam Dawson, belting a brilliant 25 from just 11 balls (1x4, 2x6) to not only revive hopes of victory but to leave the home side’s supporters buoyant in belief.

The home side have bounced back in emphatic style with back-to-back bonus point victories after starting their title defence with three defeats and are currently in third place with 10 points, tied with Joburg Super Kings but ahead courtesy of those bonus points.

The Pretoria Capitals have struggled to find any momentum after two washed out games and two losses and are languishing in fifth place on nine points, one ahead of last-placed Durban Super Giants.

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

PRETORIA CAPITALS: Will Jacks, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Rilee Rossouw (captain), Marques Ackerman, Keagan Lion-Cachet, Jimmy Neesham, Senuran Muthusamy, Kyle Simmonds, Eathan Bosch, Jason Behrendorff.