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DEFENDING CHAMPIONS' NEWBIES EAGER TO THRILL ORANGE ARMY
Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape began to gather this week in Gqeberha ahead of the defence of their Betway SA20 title, not least the mouthwatering season opener against Joburg Super Kings at St George’s Park on Wednesday, 10 January 2024. In looking forward to Season 2 of South Africa’s premier T20 league, some of their newbies outlined their and the team’s ambitions.
Star signing Dawid Malan (the ICC’s all-time No. 1-ranked T20I batter) kept it short and sweet in addressing Orange Army fans about his personal goals for his debut SA20 campaign, telling his team's media crew “score as many runs as I can to win as many games as we can as a franchise and hopefully lift the trophy again”.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape's Orange Army will hope Dawid Malan has same the laser focus he displayed for England during the World Cup in India, and which has seen him top the all-time ICC rankings for T20I batters.
The England-left handed batter, who ended the World Cup in India as his country’s top run-scorer, had his sentiments echoed by fellow new recruit, Daniel Worrall.
“I think an important thing is to go out and win trophies, so I’ll be doing my best to prepare well,” said the 32-year-old right arm fast medium bowler played all three of his One Day Internationals for Australia back in 2016 in South Africa (subsequent to an ‘A’ to here).
Worrall’s debut came against Ireland in a match played at Benoni (he took 1/43 in his 10 overs), before playing in the first ODI at Centurion (0/50 in 7.2) and third at Kingsmead (0/78 in 9) in a 5-0 whitewash for the Proteas – featuring Worrall’s SA20 bowling coach, Dale Steyn.
Almost eight years on, ‘Franky’ (nicknamed after the former West Indies captain, Frank Worrall) returns as a British passport player and as a replacement for Brydon Carse, the Gqeberha-raised pace bowler who misses Season 2 as he will be on tour with the England Lions team in India during.
Meanwhile, Simon Harmer has traded Durban for Gqeberha and is eager to get reacquainted with his domestic home for seven years, St George’s Park.
“I’m really excited to play in front of full houses with the band in full swing,” said the 34-year-old who will see the departure of Roelof van der Merwe to have a greater impact that his four matches with Durban’s Super Giants in the inaugural season.
Simon Harmer played four matches for Durban's Super Giants in Season 1, including once against Joburg Giants - his new team Sunrisers Eastern Cape's opponents in the League's Season 2 opener. Photo: Sunrisers Eastern Cape Media.
“There aren’t too many grounds around the world that match that sort of atmosphere. To the Orange Army, everybody is super excited to be back and we hope you are as well. We hope you have your tickets – we’re really looking forward to seeing you all down at St George’s Park in your full orange and hopefully we’re going to put on a show for everybody who comes to watch.”
Tickets are selling fast for the season opener (and there are still some available for just R20!), between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings. Apart from the incredible on-field action, Grammy Award-winning singer and producer Zakes Bantwini will be headlining the opening ceremony.
