With MI Cape Town and Sunrisers Eastern Cape headlining the SA20 Final at the Wanderers Stadium tonight, Ongama Gcwabe selects SIX Players who can turn the game on its head.
Marco Jansen
As a fully fledged all-rounder, Jansen has come a long way. Since the inception of the SA20, the 24-year-old has shown just how good an all-rounder he is. This season, the left-arm quick tops the wicket-takers list with 17 wickets at an economy of 6.91. His performances in the eliminator and the second qualifier will have reminded MI Cape Town that he is capable of turning the final on its head and in the favour of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
George Linde
The last few months have been a dream for Linde having been re-called in the Proteas T20 team and done exceptionally well. The 33-year-old has carried that form into the current SA20 season with impressive performances with both bat and ball. In the final at the Wanderers tonight, Linde will be one to watch.
Aiden Markram
Markram is the tournament's all-time leading run-scorer for a reason. This season, with his team struggling right from the start of the tournament, the captain has been leading from the front. He currently sits third on the top-runs scorers list with 334 runs including three half-centuries with one of those coming in the eliminator. With the ball, Markram is no longer just a part-timer. He has earned the respect as an off-spinner.
Rashid Khan
The format's leading wicket-taker has been in good touch this season. He has taken 11 wickets thus far at seven runs per over.
But most importantly, the captain has led MI Cape Town to their very first SA20 final, a special achievement given that the team has finished bottom of the standings in the past two years.
Under pressure in the final tonight, Khan will make the step up.
Tony de Zorzi
Having joined the Sunrisers in the backend of the league as the Sunrisers were desperate for an opener when Zak Crawley failed, De Zorzi has been decent up until the second qualifier in Centurion on Thursday night.
The left-handed batter smashed a 49-ball 78 including 11 fours and two sixes as he helped the Sunrisers secure a spot in the final.
Ryan Rickelton
Rickelton currently sits in fifth place in the current leading run-scorers list with over 300 runs and a 175 strike rate, a pair of returns that paints a vivid picture of just how destructive he has been at the top of the order.
Given that he calls the Wanderers Stadium home in domestic cricket, he will be itching to get out there tonight and cause damage in the first powerplay.