SA20 League: South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma has been signed by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape for the remainder of the SA20 tournament. Bavuma was a notable omission at the SA20 player auction in September last year. None of the six franchises showed interest in buying him at his base price of Rand 850,000. But his rich vein of form in the ODI series against England gets him the deal in SA20. Follow South Africa T20 League LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
SA20 League: Temba Bavuma finally gets SA20 deal, Sunrisers Eastern Cape rope in Proteas skipper for Second half of SA20 – Check details
A tweet from Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s official handle confirmed Bavuma signing for the rest of the season. The tweet read: “Our Sunrisers Eastern Cape family just got bigger & better! Temba Bavuma joins the Sunrisers for the remainder of the season.”
🚨 Our Sunrisers Eastern Cape family just got bigger & better! 🔥
Temba Bavuma joins the Sunrisers for the remainder of the season 🙌@TembaBavuma | #SEC #SunrisersEasternCape #PlayWithFire #SA20 pic.twitter.com/wJZMGuUPr2
— Sunrisers Eastern Cape (@SunrisersEC) February 2, 2023
The Proteas skipper has been under criticism for his poor scoring rate in T20Is. He had also spoken of his disappointment at not being picked in the SA20 auction. He had set his base price at Rand 850,000 (US$48,000 approx.) but did not find any buyers. However, he redeemed himself in white-ball cricket with a high-quality hundred against England in the second ODI.
SA20 League: Temba Bavuma finally gets SA20 deal, Sunrisers Eastern Cape rope in Proteas skipper for Second half of SA20 – Check details
After his hundred, Bavuma spoke about the pride he felt in being able to show people “I am still here”, and said he had worked hard with stand-in coach Shukri Conrad on changing his mindset to be able to take on bowlers more. His back-foot play and his shot selection against spinners were particularly impressive, and later he said it was one of his best innings.
The right-handed batter was the leading run-scorer for the Proteas in the series, with 180 runs from three matches. He struck a match-winning century in the second ODI, which also sealed the series. He maintained a strike rate of over 100 throughout the three-match series. Having previously been criticised for his lack of big-hitting, Bavuma hit 23 fours and three sixes on two of the biggest grounds in South Africa in Bloemfontein and Kimberley, and also led the South African side well.
SA20 League: Temba Bavuma finally gets SA20 deal, Sunrisers Eastern Cape rope in Proteas skipper for Second half of SA20 – Check details
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