1
W
1
4
4
2
= 12
Match Details
BW vs ECR, 11th T20, ETPL 2026 summary
BW
130-10(17.1)
Edinburgh Castle Rockers won by 59 runs 🏆
ECR
(20.0)189-5
+
P'ship : 0(0)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentators, Rajarshi Das, Soumarya Dutta, and scorer Ghanendra Singh Thakur. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!!!!
With this win, the Edinburgh Castle Rockers have moved up to the top of the points table due to their superior run rate compared to the Rotterdam Dockers.
Tomorrow, on Thursday, 3rd September, we have just one match scheduled in the ETPL. So do join us at 5:45 PM IST (2:15 PM Local Time).
Tomorrow, on Thursday, 3rd September, we have just one match scheduled in the ETPL. So do join us at 5:45 PM IST (2:15 PM Local Time).
So, was Smuts the difference? Absolutely. His 98 off 60 was the innings that separated the sides. Belfast had enough moments with the ball to suggest that 189 might have been lower. Klaassen's 2/22 was particularly impressive, and the Wolves did pull the scoring back late. But Smuts had already done the heavy lifting. His fifty came before the halfway point, his acceleration kept the Rockers ahead of the rate, and even his dismissal at 171 left Santner enough time to add the finishing touches. Then Boult and Curran turned that total into a mountain. One team had the runs. The other never had enough wickets.
Mitchell Santner (Edinburgh Castle Rockers Captain): (On whether 181 was a good enough total) "Yeah, I think we were reasonably happy with it. I think it was definitely probably the best pitch we've played on so far. So, we knew that, I guess with a smaller side and having to bowl smart, it was still going to be a good game, and it's nice to, I guess, get another win.
(On his late runs and the intensity of the tournament) I think so. I mean, yeah, It's probably the best pitch we've seen so far. They've been good still, and I think guys are getting into their work and hitting their strides a little bit throughout the tournament. And yeah, I mean, a couple of nice high-scoring games today. Not a lot of spin, which is not ideal, but it was good.
(On the team's overall performance) It was another great outing for us. JJ batted unbelievably and backed up with some nice partnerships around him, and then again with the ball, we were very clear and did a good job.
(On celebrating Tom Curran's hat-trick)A few beers, I'd say. Yeah, I think we've played a few games. There have been milestones throughout. TC (Curran) again today was outstanding, JJ, Bolty (Boult) working at the top. So, yeah, it's been good. Different guys are stepping up at different times, which has been really good and makes my job pretty easy.
(On enjoying the captaincy) Yeah, it's good. I mean, it's always, when you get into a new group, you're always kind of feeling it out a little bit, but the guys have been really good. The support staff's been really good, and I think it's kind of showing off the field. We're getting around each other, and it's kind of going onto the field as well, which has been good."
(On his late runs and the intensity of the tournament) I think so. I mean, yeah, It's probably the best pitch we've seen so far. They've been good still, and I think guys are getting into their work and hitting their strides a little bit throughout the tournament. And yeah, I mean, a couple of nice high-scoring games today. Not a lot of spin, which is not ideal, but it was good.
(On the team's overall performance) It was another great outing for us. JJ batted unbelievably and backed up with some nice partnerships around him, and then again with the ball, we were very clear and did a good job.
(On celebrating Tom Curran's hat-trick)A few beers, I'd say. Yeah, I think we've played a few games. There have been milestones throughout. TC (Curran) again today was outstanding, JJ, Bolty (Boult) working at the top. So, yeah, it's been good. Different guys are stepping up at different times, which has been really good and makes my job pretty easy.
(On enjoying the captaincy) Yeah, it's good. I mean, it's always, when you get into a new group, you're always kind of feeling it out a little bit, but the guys have been really good. The support staff's been really good, and I think it's kind of showing off the field. We're getting around each other, and it's kind of going onto the field as well, which has been good."
JJ Smuts (Player of the Match, Edinburgh Castle Rockers) - "(On missing out on a ton) Obviously easy looking back now and saying that. We lost a bit of momentum in the last few overs and they bowled really well. They strangled us a bit. So kind of felt that we need a few more boundaries at the back end. Fortunately we had enough on the board.
(On the wicket and his batting approach) It has come from the head coach. Myself and Ross have been asked to give it a big whack upfront. The head coach as asked us to keep going. We had some good partnerships today. We got off to a flyer today and then carried on the momentum. We wanted to get to 200 probably but we bowled really well.
(On whether he is able to read the bowler's mind since he bowls a bit himself) I think you are giving me too much credit. I try to take it one ball at a time. For me it is about seeing the ball and hitting the ball and I keep it simple. "
(On the wicket and his batting approach) It has come from the head coach. Myself and Ross have been asked to give it a big whack upfront. The head coach as asked us to keep going. We had some good partnerships today. We got off to a flyer today and then carried on the momentum. We wanted to get to 200 probably but we bowled really well.
(On whether he is able to read the bowler's mind since he bowls a bit himself) I think you are giving me too much credit. I try to take it one ball at a time. For me it is about seeing the ball and hitting the ball and I keep it simple. "
Player of the Match- JJ Smuts
The Post Match Presentation is coming up now.
Glenn Maxwell (Belfast Wolves captain): "(Was 190 a tall order) No, we felt like it was a bit under, how well the wicket played. We were really proud of our bowlers at the back end, I suppose, keeping them down to that total. We had full confidence in our batting line-up, being able to chase it. Can happen in T20 cricket, you lose a couple of wickets and a couple of 50-50 decisions go against you and it can all fall away pretty quickly. They did a good job of shutting the game out.
(On JJ Smuts' innings) Well, if we were able to keep our foot behind the line, we would have had him early! (Chuckles) But yeah, he struck the ball really beautifully, he was the rock, they batted around him throughout the innings, was able to bat deep at the back end, targetted Dan with the wind and the short boundary.
(Has the intensity cranked up here?) Yeah, a little bit, it's been a great tournament. Once we've had enough of the rain and more days like this, where we had two full games, good games for the crowd to really get in and get behind. The cricket's been heating up, and it's certainly starting to get a bit tight at the top as well."
(On JJ Smuts' innings) Well, if we were able to keep our foot behind the line, we would have had him early! (Chuckles) But yeah, he struck the ball really beautifully, he was the rock, they batted around him throughout the innings, was able to bat deep at the back end, targetted Dan with the wind and the short boundary.
(Has the intensity cranked up here?) Yeah, a little bit, it's been a great tournament. Once we've had enough of the rain and more days like this, where we had two full games, good games for the crowd to really get in and get behind. The cricket's been heating up, and it's certainly starting to get a bit tight at the top as well."
10:01 PM IST, 6:31 PM Local Time: One innings does not just set the target - it sets the tone for the entire match. Edinburgh Castle Rockers had JJ Smuts to thank for doing exactly that. His 98 off 60 balls powered them to 189/5. Belfast Wolves fought back with the ball late, but the damage was already done. Their chase never really recovered from losing four wickets for 51 inside the Powerplay. Trent Boult's new-ball burst gave the Rockers the perfect start. Tom Curran then finished the job with a remarkable 4 for 20, including the first hat-trick in ETPL history. The Wolves were bowled out for 130 in 17.1 overs, losing by 59 runs.
Let's rewind a bit...
So, where did the first innings really take shape? It was in the Powerplay. Edinburgh Castle Rockers lost Ross Adair for 9 off 9 in the third over, with Mark Adair winning the battle against his brother. But that was as good as it got for Belfast early on. Smuts survived a huge moment when Netravalkar had him caught off a no-ball. He made the Wolves pay immediately. The South African opener raced later to 50 off 28 balls, with six fours and two sixes. The Rockers finished the Powerplay at 55/1. Smuts had scored 36 of those first 55. Belfast had made the early breakthrough, but Smuts had already grabbed control.
So, where did the first innings really take shape? It was in the Powerplay. Edinburgh Castle Rockers lost Ross Adair for 9 off 9 in the third over, with Mark Adair winning the battle against his brother. But that was as good as it got for Belfast early on. Smuts survived a huge moment when Netravalkar had him caught off a no-ball. He made the Wolves pay immediately. The South African opener raced later to 50 off 28 balls, with six fours and two sixes. The Rockers finished the Powerplay at 55/1. Smuts had scored 36 of those first 55. Belfast had made the early breakthrough, but Smuts had already grabbed control.
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