Bairstow and de Kock excel in 177 chase in 14.2 overs
Sunrisers Eastern Cape 177 for 0 (Bairstow 85*, de Kock 79*) defeated Pretoria Capitals 176 for 7 (Esterhuizen 52, Nortje 3-32) by 10 wickets. Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) powered their way to the top of the SA20 points table midway through the group stage with a commanding 10-wicket victory over Pretoria Capitals in Centurion. They successfully chased down 177 in an impressive display, accomplishing it in less than 15 overs to secure a bonus point and establish a two-point lead over JSK, who have a game in hand. Meanwhile, PC has managed only a single win in their five matches thus far, placing them fifth, currently outside the playoff positions. The home team experienced a challenging night after opting to bat at a venue known for favoring chases under lights, and they ended up with a subpar total. Half-centuries from Connor Esterhuizen and Sherfane Rutherford flanked a performance by PC that lacked fluency against a sharp SEC bowling attack. Anrich Nortje was in peak form, claiming 3 for 32, while Adam Milne varied his approach effectively to finish with 2 for 36. Lewis Gregory maintained an economical rate of 4.5, further quieting PC’s run-scoring efforts. If PC had hoped to turn the game around, Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow quickly dashed those expectations. They faced no real challenges during the chase, offering barely a chance and smashing 13 fours and 12 sixes in their unbeaten opening partnership, which marks SEC’s highest in the SA20 and the second-highest overall in the competition. This match also recorded the first 10-wicket win in a complete game in SA20 history.
**Esterhuizen shines after slow start** After two seasons as a peripheral player for MICT, Esterhuizen relocated closer to home in the Highveld for this SA20 season, but his start was less than ideal. His initial three innings produced scores of 2, 9, and 0, and he was slow at 6 off the first eight deliveries he faced in this encounter. However, in the last over of the powerplay, Lutho Sipamla strayed onto Esterhuizen’s pads, allowing him to lift it over short fine leg for six. The subsequent delivery, pitched up on middle stump, also received similar treatment, but this time with a squarer hit. Esterhuizen then took on Anrich Nortje’s short and full deliveries, followed by a trio of fours off Marco Jansen, all directed through the covers, bringing him close to his half-century. He reached this milestone off just 28 balls, marking his first fifty for PC.
**QdK: the ultimate catcher** De Kock has already delivered one of the tournament’s standout catches, diving leg-side to dismiss Lhuan-dre Pretorius for 11 on New Year’s Eve, and he surpassed himself in Centurion. Andre Russell entered the fray with PC at 126 for 5 in the 16th over, seeking to accelerate the scoring. He flat-batted his first delivery for four, signaling his aggression. In the subsequent over, Russell was deceived by an Adam Milne slower ball, swinging hard but edging the ball. De Kock leapt to the right to snatch a spectacular one-handed catch that will be featured in highlight reels for years to come. While Russell might have thought he could return the favor when de Kock struck Tymal Mills high but not far over the covers, three fielders converged on the chance. It came closest to Russell, yet he was unable to hold on.
**SEC’s remarkable opening partnership** The initial three deliveries resulted in four runs – leg-byes, runs, and then byes – as Mills faced difficulty with his control, and from there, it was all about batting. De Kock elegantly drove Ngidi through the covers, while Bairstow launched Kyle Mills down the ground, and then de Kock hammered two sixes off an Ngidi over that cost 14 runs, leaving PC concerned about how to break their rhythm. They accumulated another 15 runs off Russell’s first over, concluding the powerplay at 66 without losing a wicket and requiring only 111 more runs from the following 14 overs to claim victory. PC struggled to exert any pressure as de Kock and Bairstow comfortably positioned themselves in a place of total dominance.
**Bairstow demolishes Maharaj** The most expensive over recorded in SA20 history came at the hands of Bairstow against PC captain Keshav Maharaj, who was left with no escape. His first delivery was sent onto the roof, as Bairstow reached fifty off 35 balls. The second was slog-swept over mid-wicket, the third followed suit, and the fourth was directed along the ground in the same direction. Maharaj attempted to disguise his fifth ball, but Bairstow took full advantage, sending it over his head for six and then finishing with another six straight down the pitch. SEC transitioned from needing 61 runs off nine overs to just 27 from eight, with a bonus point win on the horizon. Bairstow concluded the match unbeaten on 85*, while de Kock finished on 79*.
Published: 2026-01-05 19:17:00
source: www.espncricinfo.com
