There's still a lot left in the tank, warns Anrich Nortje after four-wicket SA20 comeback

Sunrisers Eastern Cape fast bowler Anrich Nortje has issued a warning that he is only starting up his engine after a four-wicket burst in his Betway SA20 comeback game.

Nortje has missed the last two seasons due to stress fractures in his back before his debut for his new team, Sunrisers, against Paarl Royals at Boland Park on Saturday evening. 

The Uitenhage Express delivered an excellent performance of 4/13 to help skittle the Royals for just 49 - the lowest score in Betway SA20 history. 

"Good to be back, great to be part of the SA20 again,” Nortje said. “Yeah, it's lovely to be back in the tournament. Once again, the turnout, the fans, the atmosphere, it's unbelievable. So, yeah, I'm happy with the result as well. I'm happy to contribute and yeah, I'm happy to start with a win.

"You've got to trust your body and you can't worry about this or that. I don't think it's something I ever don't trust.

"When something's wrong then it's probably too late but, in general, you have to trust your body. You have to trust whatever you have to do in order to get the ball in the right area and you've got to know that the work that you do is the right work.”

Coming into SA20, Nortje had played a couple of T20Is for the Proteas in India and also charged in for the Dolphins in the preceding CSA T20 Challenge.

Although the rhythm is slowly starting to return, Nortje feels that he is still not operating at optimum capacity. 

"Rhythm wise I think it can be better but definitely the wind played a part. It feels like there's a bit more to be honest with you," he said.

"It doesn't feel like everything's clicking, but that's how cricket works. You bowl good on a day, you don't get any wickets. You bowl maybe a few loose ones and you get some wickets.

So, I'm just really happy with how things have started out and hopefully just build on what we've got now. There's still a lot left in that tank."

The Sunrisers face off against Nortje’s former team, Pretoria Capitals, at St George’s Park on Monday, and he certainly feels blessed to be part of a fast bowling trio that also boasts Marco Jansen and Adam Milne. 

The new-ball pair were excellent at Boland Park, picking up wickets in the Powerplay, which Nortje feels makes his job a lot easier coming on at first change.

"[Jansen and Milne] are very skilled with the new ball and very happy to come in after that and chip away," he said. 

"They build a good platform and get early wickets too. We cover different conditions and skills and the boys are going well."