In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Sunrisers Eastern Cape demolished the Pretoria Capitals by 10 wickets in a one-sided SA20 encounter at Centurion on Monday. The victory, fueled by a record-breaking unbeaten opening stand, propelled the Sunrisers back to the top of the league table.
Historic Chase Led by De Kock and Bairstow
Chasing a competitive target of 177, the Sunrisers made a mockery of the run chase, reaching the target with a staggering 34 balls to spare. The opening pair of Quinton de Kock (79 not out off 41 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (85 not out off 45 balls) remained unseparated, scripting the highest successful chase without losing a wicket in SA20 history.
Player-of-the-match Quinton de Kock set the tone early, launching a fierce assault during the Powerplay. He struck the ball cleanly, particularly through the covers, and hammered a couple of sixes off fast bowler Lungi Ngidi. He continued his dominance, taking pacer Lizaad Williams to the cleaners as the Sunrisers seized control from the outset.
Bairstow's Carnage Creates SA20 History
Jonny Bairstow started cautiously but exploded into action when Capitals' spinner Keshav Maharaj came into the attack. The former England star treated Maharaj with utter disdain, bludgeoning five massive sixes and a boundary in a single over. That 12th over yielded 34 runs, making it the most expensive over ever recorded in the SA20 league.
Their combined effort of 177 for no loss not only secured a massive win but also earned the Sunrisers Eastern Cape 17 points, reinstating them at the summit of the points table.
Clinical Bowling Sets Up Dominant Win
Earlier, the Sunrisers' bowlers laid the foundation for the win with a disciplined performance. Despite a fine half-century from new opener Connor Esterhuizen (52 off 33 balls) and a late blitz from Sherfane Rutherford (47 not out off 22 balls), the Capitals were restricted to a below-par 176 for 7 in their 20 overs.
The bowling attack was led superbly by speedster Anrich Nortje, who lit up his former home ground with fiery deliveries clocking over 150 km/h to finish with impressive figures of 3 for 32. English all-rounder Lewis Gregory was remarkably economical, conceding only 18 runs in his four overs while taking a wicket.
Pacer Adam Milne (2 for 36) also played a crucial role, absorbing pressure in a costly 22-run penultimate over but managing to claim the important wicket of the Capitals' big-hitting West Indian recruit, Andre Russell.
This comprehensive performance, featuring a potent mix of sharp bowling, excellent catching, and devastating batting, marks the Sunrisers Eastern Cape as the team to beat in the ongoing SA20 season.
