Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) delivered one of the most dominant performances in SA20 history as they chased down 177 without losing a wicket to defeat Pretoria Capitals (PC) by 10 wickets in Centurion. The emphatic win earned SEC a bonus point and lifted them to the top of the points table midway through the group stage, putting clear daylight between them and their closest rivals.
Pretoria Capitals, meanwhile, endured another disappointing outing. With just one win from five matches, they remain fifth on the table and outside the playoff positions, with growing pressure as the tournament progresses.
Pretoria Capitals Struggle After Choosing to Bat First
Choosing to bat first on a ground known for favoring teams chasing under lights proved costly for Pretoria Capitals. Despite half-centuries from Connor Esterhuizen and Sherfane Rutherford, PC never truly found momentum and limped to 176 for 7, a total that looked under-par from the moment the innings ended.
Esterhuizen’s innings was a personal triumph after a poor start to the season. After scores of 2, 9 and 0 in his first three matches, he began cautiously again, crawling to 6 off eight balls. A change in fortune came during the final over of the powerplay when he capitalized on loose deliveries from Lutho Sipamla. From there, Esterhuizen grew in confidence, taking on Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen to bring up his maiden SA20 fifty for Pretoria Capitals off just 28 balls.
The Sunrisers’ bowling attack, however, ensured PC never broke free. Anrich Nortje led the charge with a sharp spell of 3 for 32, while Adam Milne claimed 2 for 36 by cleverly mixing his pace. Lewis Gregory was particularly economical, conceding just 4.5 runs per over to keep the pressure firmly on the hosts.
Quinton de Kock also made his mark in the field, producing a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Andre Russell, adding to what has already been an exceptional tournament for him behind the stumps.
De Kock and Bairstow Deliver a Record-Breaking Chase
Any hopes Pretoria Capitals had of defending their total were quickly extinguished by an extraordinary opening partnership between Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow. The pair were completely untroubled as they tore into the PC bowling attack, striking 13 fours and 12 sixes in an unbeaten stand that became Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s highest partnership in SA20 and the second-highest overall in the competition.
SEC raced to 66 without loss in the powerplay, leaving them needing just 111 runs from 14 overs. There was no way back from there. The bowlers failed to apply any pressure as de Kock and Bairstow rotated strike with ease and punished anything loose.
The defining moment of the chase came when Bairstow dismantled PC captain Keshav Maharaj in a historic over. Bairstow smashed sixes and fours in all directions, producing the most expensive over ever bowled in SA20 history. The onslaught took SEC from a comfortable position to the brink of a bonus-point win in a matter of minutes.
Bairstow brought up his fifty off 35 balls and finished unbeaten on 85*, while de Kock remained not out on 79*. Sunrisers Eastern Cape completed the chase inside 15 overs, sealing the first-ever 10-wicket win in a full SA20 match and sending a clear message to the rest of the tournament.
