While it was Durban Super Giants batsman Heinrich Klaasen who smashed a monstrous 105m six, Sunrisers Eastern Cape batsman Tristan Stubbs hit the ball from Kingsmead, Durban. Stubbs played an unbeaten innings of 66 runs off 37 balls and anchored his team to a five-wicket victory against the Super Giants, which was their second in the tournament.
During the fifth ball of the 19th over of the second innings, Sunrisers Eastern Cape batsman Tristan Stubbs smashed a good length ball off Durban Super Giants bowler Reece Topley for a six off 82 metres. However, the ball landed on the roof of Durban’s Kingsmead and ended up in the street outside the stadium.
Batting first in Durban, the Durban Super Giants posted a score of 159/7 with Wiaan Mulder top-scoring with 52 runs off 29 balls. During his stay in the area, he hit three fours and four sixes in total. However, opener Quinton de Kock came out with seven runs as the Durban Super Giants struggled to get going. With little to do, Marcus Stoinis and JJ Smuts returned to the locker room for 1 and 9 runs each.
Heinrich Klaasen scored 31 runs in 17 balls during his innings, hitting three sixes and a four. After Heinrich Klaasen and Wiaan Mulder returned to the dressing room, Dwaine Pretorious completed his innings with a much-needed 23 runs off 21 balls.
Watch: Tristan Stubbs kicks the ball off the ground
Tristan Stubbs sent that ball on a one-way trip out of the stadium! 🏏💥 What a sensational success! #Betway #SA20 #WelcomeAmazing #JSKvPC pic.twitter.com/ivuO8jQ1LC
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 20, 2024
Simon Harmer was the star of the show Eastern Cape sunrise and picked up 4 wickets with the ball. Ottniel Baartman and Daniel Worral also took 1-1 wickets with the ball.
Chasing the target, Sunrisers Eastern Cape lost Dawid Malan and Tom Abell early by 1 and 2 runs. Jordan Hermann also failed to get going during the innings and was dismissed for 25 runs off 26 balls. Captain Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs started to get the innings on track and the duo added 56 runs off 42 balls for the fourth wicket.
While Aiden Markram was dismissed for 38 runs off 29 balls, Stubbs kept up the fireworks and stood firm at one end. In the end, Marco Jansen and Stubbs finished the game for the Sunrisers and helped them cross the line in the last over. This was the second for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the tournament.
The SA20 has proven to be a huge success as many big names like Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard, Naveen-ul-Haq, Jason Roy and many more famous people from around the world have come out to play in the SA20. Featuring six teams including Joburg Super Kings, Durban Super Giants, Paarl Royals, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals, the tournament is also considered a mini IPL.
The reason behind this is that all the six franchises are based on the six IPL teams and their owners are also the same. Additionally, SA20 uses the auction process to select its players, which is also used in the Indian Premier League. No doubt, the SA20 will produce many talented players for South Africa, just like the IPL does for India.