One thousand and forty-nine days passed between Anrich Nortje’s last SA20 match for the Pretoria Capitals and his first for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Nortje was the standout fast bowler in the first season of SA20 in 2023 with the league’s foundation almost being built upon the thunderbolts he was sending down.
Equally, his 20 wickets played a substantial role in the Capitals topping the log before finishing runners-up to the eventual champions, the Sunrisers.
It is no coincidence that the Capitals have not qualified for the playoffs while Nortje has been on the sidelines over the past two seasons.
With their patience glass emptied, the Capitals released Nortje ahead of this season’s auction where the fast bowler was picked up by his hometown team, the Sunrisers.
It was a high-risk selection on the part of the Sunrisers for Nortje had barely bowled a ball in anger since the T20 World Cup final in Barbados in June 2024, but it was a gamble coach Adrian Birrell was willing to take.
Birrell’s relationship with ‘The Uitenhage Express’ dates back to Nortje’s formative years at St George’s Park, and he was confident that the fast bowler was on the right track.
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Nortje repaid the faith by delivering in spectacular fashion on his Sunrisers debut against the Paarl Royals at Boland Park on Saturday evening.
Charging in from the Klein Nederburg End, Nortje pushed the speed gun up and over 145km/h to rush up all the Paarl Royals batsmen.
His reward was a sensational 4-23 in his comeback game.
“Yeah, it’s lovely to be back in the tournament. Once again, the turnout, the fans, the atmosphere, it’s unbelievable. So, yeah, I’m happy with the results as well,” Nortje said.
“I’m happy to contribute and yeah, I’m happy to start with a win. I’m just really happy with how things have started out and hopefully just build on what we’ve got now.”
With the Sunrisers’ next match against the Pretoria Capitals at St George’s Park on Monday, Nortje is eagerly looking forward to playing before his friends and family for the first time.
The fast bowler also delivered a timely warning to a Capitals batting unit that crashed in their first outing that he has yet to get the engines warmed-up properly.
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“It feels like there’s a bit more to be honest with you,” Nortje said. “It doesn’t feel like everything’s clicking, but that’s how cricket works.
“You bowl good on a day, you don’t get any wickets. You bowl maybe a few loose ones and you get some wickets. There’s still a lot left in that tank!”
Photo: Sportzpics
