NERVES OF STEEL: HOW TRISTAN STUBBS' HEROICS SAVED THE PROTEAS IN T20 WORLD CUP DOUBLE SUPER OVER

Sunrisers Eastern Cape Tristan Stubbs may not have much hair left by the end of this season after playing a pivotal role in the Proteas’ dramatic ICC T20 World Cup clash against Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old has been involved in a few crunch moments recently, most notably in a captivating last over when he belted two sixes to take the Sunrisers to victory in the Betway SA20 Final. 

He was also at the wicket when his local franchise, the Warriors, were pushed into a Super Over before eventually getting over the line in the CSA Domestic T20 Challenge final. 

But none of that compared to the high drama Stubbs faced in Ahmedabad. 

Stubbs had failed in the regulation innings, caught for one, but was entrusted with walking out with Paarl Royals captain David Miller to chase down Afghanistan’s 18-run target in the Super Over after the initial match was tied. 

“I've been in a few of them before, just got to focus on your breathing and watch the ball and there's a lot of luck involved but I'm pretty clear in the Super Overs, you just watch the ball and that's about all you can do,” Stubbs said. 

A match that had swung from one way to another was now at ultimately deadlocked with the Proteas requiring seven runs off the last ball of the Super Over - and six to tie it up yet again which would result in a second Super Over. 

REWATCH BETWAY SA20'S FIRST-EVER SUPER OVER

With the game on the line, Stubbs drew on these past experiences to steady himself, before launching Fazalhaq Farooqi straight down the ground for an incredible six to level up the scores. 

“The two Super Overs I was in, that helped a lot because honestly it's about being calm and I tell myself the bowler is under more pressure and they tend to miss a lot more in the Super Overs, so if you're clear, calm, watching the ball, you'll get your chance and fortunately we did.

“He bowled two yorkers and he landed them, so I sort of knew he was coming yorker but again it was like being really calm, really still and trying to hit it for six and fortunately I hit it for six.”

Stubbs would go on to hit the first ball for six of the next Super Over to set up Miller’s double-six onslaught that saw the Proteas set Afghanistan a target of 24.

It proved to be just enough with Keshav Maharaj holding his nerve, despite being smashed for three consecutive sixes by former Pretoria Capitals opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.