Rashid looks to break out of SEC's prison, where grandpa Birrell has the keys

Should Mumbai Indians Cape Town beat Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 final at the Wanderers on Saturday, some of the credit should go to Lincoln Burrows, Michael Scofield, and the rest of the characters of Prison Break.

The US television crime drama, which endured for five seasons from May 2006 to May 2017 and featured a movie, centres on Burrows being sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit and the efforts of Scofield - his brother - to spring him from jail.

It's still out there in the electronic ether, and it has Rashid Khan's attention.

"The series gives you an idea of how to get out of difficulties in pressure situations," Khan told a press conference on Friday. "It gives you ideas, for the game as well, and you have to use that. Sometimes you forget things as a captain, so I had the idea to write things on my arm to be able to know about the next over."

In Prison Break, Scofield's tattoos contain important codes and messages that will help him in his mission. For instance, a tattoo on his left arm incorporates the coordinates for the positions of holes that, when drilled into a wall, will make the structure easier to topple.

Khan was, of course, not being entirely serious. The original question that begat his answer was how he has kept himself occupied for the past six days.

He played 10 games in six cities in 27 days. But he hasn't been on the field since Saturday. What has he done with his downtime?

"I sat in my room and watched Netflix a lot," Khan said. Hence Prison Break, and its unintended metaphors for how to win games of cricket.

"It's difficult going from one city to another city, where there are different conditions and different pitches and you have to react. But that's where your experience comes in. As a professional cricketer, you have to use that experience.

"The beauty of life is that you face tough times and tough situations, and that's where your skill will be tested and you will know how good you are.

"When the pitch is spinning and I take five or six wickets, I don't really enjoy it. But when there is no turn and I take one or two wickets with a good economy rate, that's more enjoyable."

Clearly, Khan is having a good time at the SA20. Only seven bowlers in this year's competition have taken more wickets than him, and just 20 have a better economy rate.

More importantly, he has captained Cape Town from the bottom of the standings - where they finished in both previous editions of the tournament - to the top this year, when they won seven league games and lost only two.

Then the Capetonians beat Paarl Royals by 39 runs in the first qualifier at St George's Park on Saturday to clear their path to the final. And put their feet up.

"Today is the first time we're going to practise [after Saturday]," Khan said. "The schedule was very busy throughout the month - we travelled one day, played the next day, and travelled again the next day. The body needs rest and to be refreshed to make sure we are ready for the final. So we took a few days off."

SEC, the champions in the first two seasons, reached the final the hard way. Having finished third in the league stage with five wins and as many losses, they beat Joburg Super Kings by 32 runs in the eliminator and Paarl by eight wickets with four balls to spare in the second qualifier. Those games were played on Wednesday and Thursday. Mercifully, both matches were in Centurion.

But the Eastern Capers may pay a heavy price for that schedule. Ottniel Baartman, their second-highest wicket-taker, pulled up with a hamstring issue three balls before the end of his four overs on Thursday. Should Baartman not be passed fit, Andile Simelane could replace him. SEC also have Beyers Swanepoel and Okuhle Cele.

"We've got some nice options to pick from," Aiden Markram told a press conference. "It's more about trying to fill the overs that Ottniel would have bowled. So you try and find a like-for-like replacement."

The cool, canny Baartman would be a big loss. Markram, meanwhile, is SEC's leading run-scorer and the third-highest in the tournament. But another vital member of the orange outfit isn't often mentioned in dispatches and has yet to attend a press conference this season. His name is Adrian Birrell, SEC's head coach, and he's been central to the franchise's success in all three campaigns,

"Adi's been around for years and he's seen so many things, but he remains this really calm.." Markram hesitated:"....he's almost like, I can't say the word....let's go with it - he's a grandfather figure for us.

"He's going to hate me for saying that, but anyone can chat to him. He manages each individual in the team with a lot of care, which the players really appreciate. His values are very strong and the team absorb that and they treat people the same way."

In a word, with respect. Birrell is steeped in cricket, like his father, Harry, was before him. But he is, heart and soul, an Eastern Cape farmer. A little respect goes a long way in those parts and in that life.

Without it, you're nothing. With it, all things are possible. Even a third SA20 title.