Five things you need to know about Sarel Erwee’s T20 ton

Relatively unknown Dolphins opener Sarel Erwee on Sunday set the domestic scene alight with the first century in this season’s Ram Slam T20 challenge.

The powerful yet skillful left-hander stroked his way to a magnificent, unbeaten 103 off just 58 balls as the Durbanites managed to beat the Cape Cobras in Centurion.

Hundreds actually aren’t all that common in the history of the tournament.

Here are five interesting facts about Erwee’s century.

• Erwee’s 103 not out is the sixth highest individual score in South Africa’s domestic T20 history. Ironically, he shares that place with fellow Dolphins teammate Cameron Delport. Delport is currently in Bangladesh playing in their T20 Premier League. (Delport is allowed to play one international T20 tournament per season as stipulated in his contract). The record is held by Quinton de Kock, who made 126 for the Highveld Lions against the Cobras in 2012/13.
• While Erwee’s five sixes look like a lot, it’s nowhere near the record for most sixes in an innings in the Ram Slam. That honour goes to Kevin Pietersen, who hit 10 in his unbeaten 115 against the Lions in 2015/16. Who did KP play for? Yes, you guessed it, the Dolphins…
• Erwee’s century continues a curious trend of the Dolphins being the franchise with the batsmen who most regularly score T20 centuries. The Durbanites now boast four centurions in the history of tournament. Along with Erwee and Delport’s efforts, KP has scored two. The Lions are second on the list with three (De Kock, Chris Gayle and Rassie van der Dussen).
• You can technically add a fifth Dolphins to the hundreds list. Captain Khaya Zondo, who made a brilliant 67 off just 34 balls at the weekend, scored an unbeaten 100 for the Impi in 2013. The Impi were a combined side of players who weren’t going to get game-time at their franchises that season. The experiment only lasted for one season.
• Erwee’s century is the 15th in the history of the Ram Slam. To date, that means – on average – only one hundred gets scored per season.

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