England's Crawley left out after poor form in SA20
- Published
England opener Zak Crawley was left out by Sunrisers Eastern Cape after a miserable run of form in the SA20.
Crawley has scored just 88 runs in eight innings in the competition and had made single-figure scores in five of his past six innings.
It comes after the 26-year-old managed just 52 runs across six innings at an average of 8.66 in England's Test series in New Zealand before Christmas.
No details were given for his absence but Sunrisers coach Adi Birrell seemingly opened the door to Crawley being dropped after his first-ball duck in the previous match.
"T20 is a brutal game if you're out of form," he said. "It doesn't give time.
"I really feel for him. He's a great guy who puts in the hard work and tries his utmost best to turn it around. But it's been hard for him.
"He's been getting out to straight balls but also caught behind off wide balls. He's been getting out in two modes.
"We are going to have to look at it and come up with the plan for the next game. We've obviously backed him until now. We have got other options."
Victory against MI Cape Town on Wednesday would have secured Sunrisers place in the play-off places but they were thrashed by 10 wickets.
Asked to bat first, the defending champions were dismissed for just 107 with Crawley's replacement Tony de Zorzi making two from eight balls.
MI Cape Town then completed their chase in 11 overs with Ryan Rickelton ending 59 not out and Rassie van der Dussen unbeaten on 48.
The win, which was only the second 10-wicket win in the tournament's history, secured their place in the play-offs.
