In a thrilling encounter at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Sunrisers Eastern Cape secured a dominant 48-run victory over the Pretoria Capitals on December 29, 2025. This fifth match of the SA20 2025-26 season saw the “Orange Army” maintain their winning momentum, powered by a masterclass in aggressive batting and a clinical display of pace bowling. The win not only delighted the home crowd but also propelled the Sunrisers to the top of the points table, while the Capitals were left searching for answers after their second consecutive defeat.
Sunrisers Set a Formidable Target
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sunrisers Eastern Cape overcame an early setback to post a robust total of 188 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings began cautiously as Jonny Bairstow fell early for just 2 runs, cleaned up by Lungi Ngidi in the second over. However, this early blow only served to set the stage for a spectacular recovery led by veteran Quinton de Kock and the enterprising Matthew Breetzke.
De Kock was in sublime form, dismantling the Capitals’ bowling attack with a blend of power and precision. He blazed 77 runs off 47 deliveries, a knock punctuated by five boundaries and six towering sixes. At the other end, Breetzke provided the perfect foil, scoring a brisk 52 off 33 balls, including seven fours and a six. Together, the duo forged an electrifying 116-run partnership for the second wicket in just 70 balls, laying a solid foundation for a big total.
As the innings progressed, Jordan Hermann took over the mantle, contributing a valuable 37 runs from 20 balls. Hermann used a variety of conventional and reverse sweeps to keep the scoreboard ticking and frustrate the bowlers. Despite a few late wickets, including captain Tristan Stubbs for 9 and Lewis Gregory for 4, the Sunrisers finished strongly. Tymal Mills was the pick of the Pretoria bowlers, finishing with 2 for 31, while Keshav Maharaj proved economical, conceding only 29 runs in his four-over spell.
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Capitals Struggle Against Relentless Pace
Chasing 189 for victory, the Pretoria Capitals’ innings never truly found its rhythm. They were dealt an immediate blow when Bryce Parsons was dismissed for just 1 run in the opening over by Marco Jansen. While Shai Hope (36 off 19 balls) and Will Smeed (35 off 27 balls) showed glimpses of resistance, the Sunrisers’ bowling unit exerted constant pressure through regular breakthroughs.
Hope looked dangerous during his brief stay, striking five boundaries and a six before being cleaned up by Adam Milne. Smeed attempted to anchor the chase but eventually fell to the spin of Senuran Muthusamy. The middle order failed to capitalize on starts, with Dewald Brevis falling for 12 and Sherfane Rutherford contributing 25. The Capitals’ collapse was exacerbated by accurate bowling and sharp fielding from the Sunrisers, exemplified by the run-out of Wihan Lubbe for 5.
Adam Milne was the standout performer with the ball, tearing through the lower order to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 25. He was well-supported by Tharindu Rathnayake, who claimed 2 wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs, maintaining an exceptional economy rate of 3.75. The Capitals were eventually bundled out for 140 in 17.6 overs, falling 48 runs short of the target.
A Statement Victory for the Sunrisers
The comprehensive nature of this win underscored the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s credentials as serious title contenders. By securing a bonus point alongside the victory, they moved to 10 points in the tournament standings. The balance of their squad, featuring explosive openers, a stable middle order, and a versatile bowling attack, was on full display.
For the Pretoria Capitals, the match served as a wake-up call. Despite possessing talent like Shai Hope and Keshav Maharaj, the team struggled to find consistency in both departments. The inability of their top order to build long partnerships and the vulnerability of the tail against high-quality pace were areas of concern that the coaching staff would need to address quickly to keep their campaign alive. As the SA20 season progresses, the Sunrisers have firmly established themselves as the team to beat, leaving their fans optimistic about the journey ahead.
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