Sunrisers Eastern Cape have registered their first win of the SA20 through a confident all-round show against MI Cape Town.

MICT lost four wickets in their first 10 overs, with Dewald Brevis struggling to get going. A probing opening spell from Marco Jansen and Sisanda Magala created the early inroads, and it looked like the competitive total would be far-fetched.

However, a stunning assault from George Linde turned the table, and the stuttering innings finally found some much-needed traction. In fact, the unbeaten 63 from 28 was Linde’s personal best in T20 cricket, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time, as he had stated his long-standing ambitions to reenter the Proteas side.

Given where they were early on, it was a remarkable comeback from the visitors to finish with 158 at halftime.

It was a shaky start to the chase for SEC, as England import Sam Curran sent back openers Adam Rossington and JJ Smuts in consecutive overs. But that was a momentary success, as Test opener Sarel Erwee and skipper Aiden Markram stitched together a 92-run stand that would gradually wrest control from the bowlers.

Rashid Khan trapped Erwee in front, and Markram departed in the next over. Odean Smith would strike again in the 14th over, creating some tension.

However, Tristan Stubbs stepped up and smashed an important cameo of 30, which all but sealed the deal for the home side.

Stubbs departed in the final over, but two boundaries from Fuller helped ease the concern and notch up the victory.