KNYSNA NEWS - Tristan Stubbs, Knysna's first homegrown cricket product to play for the Proteas, stamped his authority on international cricket with some memorable performances in the Proteas' recent series win over England - the first time SA has beaten England in a white-ball series in England since 1998 and their first T20I series win against England in England.
Stubbs' call-up to the Proteas for the England series was his second - his first came for the India series in June, but there he only played the first of the three T20 Internationals and didn't get a chance to bat on his debut.
He was replaced by Heinrich Klaassen for the remaining two matches in India. This meant that when time came for the series in England, Stubbs would have been chomping at the bit to have a go.
Tristan Stubbs in action for the Warriors. Photo: Gallo Images
The first T20I
He was given this opportunity in the first T20I, when he was selected as part of the Proteas playing XI for only the second time.
SA bowled first and Stubbs was given a go as the sixth bowler for the Proteas, but went for 20 runs in his solitary over. His time to shine came with bat in hand though.
The Proteas were chasing a mammoth target of 235 and Stubbs came to the crease with his side already on 86-4, needing 149 runs off 10,2 overs. A 50-run partnership with David Miller and then a 48-run partnership with Andile Phehlukwayo followed as Stubbs sent the ball flying to every corner of the ground.
A great first innings
The youngster blitzed his way to an incredible 72 runs off 28 balls at a strike rate of 257,14. He smashed eight sixes in his innings - the most sixes by a batsman for a test-playing nation in their first T20I innings.
"I was quite happy with my performance, I hit the ball quite nicely. The pitch was nice to bat on and the small boundaries helped," Stubbs said looking back on his maiden T20I half-century.
Sadly his brilliance wasn't quite enough to get the team over the line as the Proteas suffered a 41-run loss, but one thing was clear to the cricketing world - Tristan Stubbs means business.
In the second T20I he came in towards the tail end of SA's innings and with Rilee Rossouw in fine form he needed to simply hand the strike to Rossouw whenever possible. Still, he managed to score 15 off 12 balls as SA set a total of 207-3.
The Proteas won this game by 58 runs to level the series at 1-1.
Fielding heroics
In the third and final T20I, Stubbs only came to the crease in the final over and had to swing for the fences from ball one. He managed eight runs in four balls before he was dismissed with the final ball of the innings.
But, it was his fielding heroics while SA was defending their total of 191 that this game will be remembered for. England batsman Moeen Ali miscued a ball off of Aiden Markram's bowling and it went off in Stubbs' general direction.
What followed was one of the most spectacular catches in recent memory as Stubbs stuck out his left hand and at full stretch plucked the ball out of the air.
"What a spectacular catch. He's some cricketer, this Tristan Stubbs, that is breathtakingly good," said the on-air commentators.
Speaking of his catch, Stubbs explained that he absolutely loves fielding and has over the course of his career made it a big part of his game.
History & the future
SA won the series decider by 90 runs to secure a 2-1 triumph, which was something special for Stubbs. "It's awesome to be a part of the first team to beat England in a white-ball series [in England] since 1998, so that was really cool, and to contribute a little was awesome as well."
He will be in action for the Proteas again in their T20I series against Ireland which started yesterday, Wednesday 3 August.
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