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Aiden Markram (Source: Twitter)
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SUNE) had a memorable evening as they emerged victorious against the Durban Super Giants (DSG) in Qualifier 1 of the ongoing SA20 league. The Sunrisers franchise comfortably secured a 56-run win to progress further in the competition. During the SA20 2024 match against Durban Super Giants at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Tuesday, February 6, SUNE skipper Aiden Markram showcased his athleticism with an incredible flying catch on the field.
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This is not the first time when the star South African player has something acrobatic on the cricketing field. In the match, DSG suffered early setbacks, losing Tony de Zorzi (2) and Matthew Breetzke (3) to be at 13/2 in 3.1 overs while chasing a target of 158. Quinton de Kock and JJ Smuts attempted to stabilize the Super Giants' innings, but Smuts was dismissed by Ottniel Baartman for a duck, leaving DSG at 13/4.
The incident happened when Baartman delivered a short-pitched delivery, prompting JJ Smuts to attempt a shot towards mid-on. However, Smuts mistimed his stroke, resulting in a strategic placement where Aiden Markram awaited. Positioned precisely, Markram swiftly moved to his left as the ball approached, leaping into the air to execute a one-handed catch and dismiss JJ Smuts. The stadium crowd was left in awe witnessing the aerobatic skills of the SEC skipper on the field.
Watch the video of sensational effort from Markram;
THAT'S NOT A BIRD, THAT'S AIDEN MARKRAM...!!!! 🤯🔥pic.twitter.com/l100A0ABFk
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 7, 2024
It will be huge for me to win the SA20 again: Aiden Markram
Looking back on their journey, Markram emphasized the importance of winning close matches and acknowledged the pivotal role played by key players such as Ottniel Baartman. He delved into the intricacies of captaincy, addressing both its challenges and rewards, while also considering the demanding T20 schedule that lies ahead. Markram expressed the team's determination to secure a spot in the final and highlighted their aspirations to defend their title, underscoring the team's motivation and potential.
“I wouldn’t say anything new that we've done or tried. Looking back at the group stages of the competition, we have had quite a few close games. And if you manage to win those close games, or most of them at least, you end up sitting in a great position. So we have been fortunate to get over the line in those close games. We had like 4 or 5 of them. Last year we probably missed out on a couple of those close ones, but this year we managed to get over the line. And because of that, it has sort of been a fantastic campaign for us,” Markram added.