Cricket
Exclusive: Liam Dawson on the Pressure as Defending Champions and Making the Playoffs
Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape are fighting to secure a playoff spot after two recent defeats. They bounced back with four wins but face pressure to perform. Liam Dawson acknowledges the challenge but remains confident in the team's ability ahead of their crucial match against Paarl Royals.
Liam Dawson in action against Joburg Super Kings
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape are currently in a battle to secure a spot in the playoffs following two consecutive defeats to Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers and MI Cape Town at Newlands respectively over the last few days.
The Pressure as Defending Champions
The position that the team finds themselves in shows regression instead of progression having been impressive in the first two seasons of the SA20, winning back-to-back trophies.
In their defence, as defending champions, the side carried extra pressure going into the tournament as they were targets right from the beginning of the tournament.
They lost their first three games of the tournament, a feat that painted a vivid picture of just how pressured captain Aiden Markram and his troops were heading into the tournament.
England and Sunrisers Eastern Cape spin-bowling all-rounder, Liam Dawson, in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.co.za admitted to the pressure that they carried as a team going into the tournament.
"There is always pressure, especially with the boys having played brilliantly over the last two years to win it so that has brought added," said Dawson.
"We knew going into the tournament that teams would want to beat us but we are confident that we can continue to play well and hopefully qualify for the knockouts."
Four Consecutive Victories
However, the defending champions bounced back with four consecutive victories at home, a feat that put them back on track to try and defend their trophy.
"Those four victories in a row were huge for us. We needed to play a lot better than what we did in those first three games and we knew as a group that we weren't good enough," Dawson told SportsBoom.co.za.
"So, to come back and win those four games in a row was really pleasing as a group. We just went back to the basics really, backed our ability and concentrated on our fielding which for me wasn't as good as it should be."
"Hopefully we could get the same toward the backend of the tournament."
Finishing Strong
The defending champions are set to host Joe Root's Paarl Royals at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Saturday for their last-round-robin fixture.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape have a lot riding on the fixture as a victory could guarantee a spot in the playoff stage of the tournament.
"It's a brilliant tournament and it's one that I'm very grateful to play in. The standard is so good so it's awesome to be a part of it," said Dawson.
"I try to do the same every game, trying to be consistent, bring a good attitude to the game, try and perform as well as I can and give 100%."
"As long as I do that then hopefully things look after themselves and produce good performances which leads to wins."
Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Paarl Royals are set to lock horns at 17.30 local time at St George's Park in Gqeberha.
Ongama Gcwabe is an experienced Sports Journalist based in South Africa. In his career, Ongama’s work has been published in the country’s biggest newspapers company, Independe Newspapers, and some of the leading news and sports websites including IOL Sport.