SIX PLAYERS TO EXCITE THE NEWLANDS FAITHFUL

Betway SA20 Season 2 finally arrives at Newlands today for the clash between MI Cape Town and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

We profile six stars who are set to excite the crowd tonight.

Ryan Rickelton - MI Cape Town

Following consecutive near-hundreds, Ryan Rickelton is unquestionably the form batter of Betway SA20 Season 2. Today the hard-hitting left-hander gets the opportunity to showcase his talent in front of the MI Cape Town home crowd for the first time this campaign and who would bet against that added motivation being the catalyst to getting those elusive three figures?

Sunrisers Eastern Cape - Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram walked away with the Betway Player of the Season award after his excellent form with both bat and ball during Sunrisers Eastern Cape's march to the title. With their opening match being rained out, and then falling short in the run chase against Durban's Super Giants on Saturday, Markram will be eager to be at the forefront of kick-starting their season. His last innings at Newlands, just two weeks ago was a top-class century in the Test against India so 'Sauce' will go into this contest confident he can deliver.

Kagiso Rabada - MI Cape Town

Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada did not feature as prominently as he would've wanted during the inaugural season of the League, but has started this campaign in fine fettle. When 'KG' has his rhythm he glides to the wicket and delivers beautifully shaped deliveries and that has been the case in MI Cape Town's opening fixtures during which he has taken three wickets at 9.60 and a stingy run rate of 5.80.

Tom Abell - Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Tom Abell set St George's Park alight on Saturday in scoring 65 off 36 in Sunrisers Eastern Cape's run chase against Durban's Super Giants. It wasn't a match-winning knock in the end, but the Englishman showed that he could be one of the unexpected stars of the defending champions' campaign this time around - after only featuring once last year. His outfielding also came to the fore on the weekend so MICT batters will have to be careful taking him on.

George Linde - MI Cape Town

He might not be a world star, but if there's an MI Cape Town player who knows Newlands in and out, then it's George Linde. The spinning all-rounder was left out MICT's season opener at Durban's Super Giants before being drafted straight back against Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers. Duly, he showed his wiliness in going for just 25 from his four-over spell while picking up two wickets - including the key one of Faf du Plessis.

Marco Jansen - Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Marco Jansen was the star of the corresponding fixture in Season 1 but, surprisingly, for his batting rather than his core skill of bowling. With MI Cape Town's batters - particularly their openers Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen - having started the season bang on form, the lanky left-armer will look to himself to bring that to a stop.

Stay tuned to the SA20 Match Centre for all the live updates on this evening's match.