Bairstow, de Kock Powers Sunrisers Eastern Cape to Crushing Victory Over Pretoria Capitals

A commanding performance by Jonny Bairstow and Quinton de Kock helped Sunrisers Eastern Cape to crush Pretoria Capitals by 10 wickets in Centurion. Both openers showcased complete dominance against the Capitals' bowlers from the start of the second innings. As a result, they chased down a big target of 177 runs without losing any wickets in just 14.2 overs.

It was a humiliating defeat for the Pretoria Capitals team, as they failed to create any pressure on Jonny Bairstow and Quinton de Kock in the second innings. They faced complete hammering while trying to defend the target, which was certainly a good total. By enduring the latest loss against Sunrisers, Pretoria Capitals are now at the second-last position on the SA20 2026 points table.

Batting first, Pretoria Capitals got off to a decent start, as their openers played with a positive intent. Bryce Parsons got out after scoring 18 runs, but Connor Esterhuizen kept playing his shots to keep the scoreboard rotating in the Powerplay. The wicket of Shai Hope also fell quickly, as he was dismissed for just 5 runs by Adam Milne.

Despite these two blows, Connor Esterhuizen remained firm at the other end. He found a good batting partner, Wihan Lubbe, who played sensibly to take the innings forward. The bowling attack of Sunrisers Eastern Cape kept things tight during the middle overs, which didn’t allow both batters to play big shots freely.

After playing a steady knock of 21 runs, Wihan Lubbe got out in the 11th over while trying to take on Lewis Gregory. It happened due to Gregory’s good bowling plan, as he forced Lubbe to attempt a big shot over the wide long-on fielder.

Soon after his dismissal, Connor Esterhuizen also lost his wicket, courtesy of a fast nipping delivery from Anrich Nortje. Nevertheless, Connor's innings was very impressive, as he went back to the pavilion after scoring a brilliant fifty off just 33 balls.

Dewald Brevis, who came out to bat at number five, was a big disappointment for the Pretoria Capitals in this match. He failed to make any impact, as Anrich Nortje once again dismissed him for just 8 runs. Losing Brevis before the death overs was concerning, as the Capitals were banking on him to score quick runs towards the end of the innings.

However, the arrival of Sherfane Rutherford to the crease changed the batting momentum of the Capitals. He attacked the Sunrisers bowlers at a furious pace, showcasing his ability to hit big sixes in the death overs. He scored a quick 47 off 22 balls, allowing the Pretoria Capitals to post 176 on the board at the end of the innings.

A Commanding Batting Display by Jonny Bairstow and Quinton de Kock

When Sunrisers Eastern Cape came out to bat, they showcased a clear intent to take on the Capitals' bowlers aggressively. The prolific duo of Jonny Bairstow and Quinton de Kock looked in total command since their arrival at the crease. They took advantage of the Powerplay to score quick runs, as Capitals bowlers failed to contain their shots in the first six overs.

The foundation set by these two batters in the Powerplay helped them move forward at a rapid pace. They kept hitting boundaries during the middle overs, showcasing a clear plan to chase the target quickly. 

As a result, they completed the chase of 177 runs in just 14.2 overs, handing Pretoria Capitals a complete thrashing at Centurion. Jonny Bairstow scored an unbeaten 85 runs, whereas Quinton de Kock took the Man of the Match award by playing a superb knock of 79 runs. By winning the match, Sunrisers Eastern Cape have topped the SA20 2026 points table with three wins in five matches.