Quinton De Kock And Jonny Bairstow Lead Sunrisers Eastern Cape To 10-Wicket Win Over Pretoria Capitals

Two-time SA20 champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape completed their highest successful run-chase in the tournament’s history on Monday (January 5) by cruising past Pretoria Capitals’ 176/7 with all 10 wickets

to spare. Openers Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow slammed unbeaten half-centuries to not just secure SEC’s 10-wicket win but also propelled the Tristan Stubbs-led side back to the top of the table with 17 points.

While De Kock faced 41 balls and with the help of 5 fours and 6 sixes scored 79 not out, Jonny Bairstow added 85 to SEC’s total in the 177-run chase from 44 balls. The out-of-favor England wicketkeeper-batter slammed 8 fours and 6 sixes. 

De Kock lit the touchpaper with the left-hander dominating the Powerplay, striking the ball sweetly over the cover region for a couple of sixes off Lungi Ngidi. He later dished out similar treatment to Lizaad Williams as the Sunrisers took control.

Bairstow was initially content to watch De Kock take on the Capitals’ bowlers, but he soon switched gears when Capitals spinner Keshav Maharaj brought himself on in search of the breakthrough.

The former England World Cup winner treated Maharaj with disdain as he blasted five sixes and a boundary in the 12th over to smash 34 runs, which is now the most expensive over in SA20 history.

The four Player of the Match candidates were Quinton de Kock, Connor Esterhuizen, Anrich Nortje and Sherfane Rutherford with the QDK winning 91.2% of the fan vote.

Sunrisers had earlier delivered a clinical bowling and catching display to limit the Capitals to a below-par total.

Although new opener Connor Esterhuizen (52, 33 balls, 6×4, 2×6) and middle-order smasher Sherfane Rutherford (47 not out, 22 balls, 3×4, 4×6) bookended the innings, the Sunrisers never loosened their grip.

Anrich Nortje lit up his former home ground with thunderbolts in excess of 150 km/h to claim 3/32, while Lewis Gregory was metronomical to finish with figures 1/18 off his four overs.

Adam Milne was also able to absorb a 22-run penultimate over to claim 2/36, which included the big wicket of Capitals new West Indian recruit Andre Russell.