'Nobody gave us a chance,' says riveting Roelof after Sunrisers 'Moneyball' to SA20 victory

Even at 38, the "Bulldog" still has a very serious bite.

Roelof van der Merwe - mere months after breaking Proteas hearts at the ICC T20 World Cup with the stunning catch that saw the Netherlands knock them out - is back endearing himself to the South African cricketing public with his infectious enthusiasm and skill, headlined by a Man of the Match performance in the historic SA20 final here on Sunday.

The wily left-arm tweaker produced a superb spell of 4/31 as Sunrisers Eastern Cape flouted expectations with a four-wicket victory over Pretoria Capitals, the cherry on top to finishing joint leading wicket-taker (20) with Anrich Nortje.

Yet, as much as Van der Merwe - who represented the Proteas before switching allegiance to the Netherlands - delivered a defining contribution when the stakes were at their highest, it was the turnaround he instigated in the early part of his franchise's campaign that stands out.

After losing their opening two encounters, Sunrisers' fortunes changed once he was picked.

Not that he'll take any credit for that.

READ | Sunrisers' pair of bulldogs tear off Capitals' hopes to claim momentous SA20 title

"Even if I didn't play a game, we probably still would've won it. I don't know. I don't know what to tell you," said Van der Merwe.

"We're sitting here with a trophy and I'm still trying to figure out how we really won it. Nobody gave us a chance when the tournament started, that's a fact. But we gelled well and almost 'Moneyballed' our way to success.

"In the end, we knew exactly what all of us were going to do and we got on with it. Happy days."

For his skipper, Aiden Markram, his share in the team's triumph was stark.    

"He played a huge role in the turnaround of our season. I've said it before,