SEC decimate Capitals to reclaim top spot

Sunrisers Eastern Cape made a mockery of a seemingly competitive chase as they stormed to a 10-wicket win over Pretoria Capitals at SuperSport Park in Centurion, sealing the top spot with their third bonus-point victory of the season. Needing 177 for victory, Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow ensured there was never any sustained pressure, even if the England batter took a few balls to settle early on. Once both openers found their range, the contest quickly turned one-sided as Sunrisers got home in just 14.2 overs.

De Kock set the tone for the chase with his positive batting, including a couple of sixes off Lungi Ngidi in the fifth over, to ensure Sunrisers were ahead of the rate from the outset. Bairstow, by contrast, began watchfully and was just 13 off 14 balls at the end of the fifth over, but he found momentum right at the back end of the PowerPlay. Three authoritative boundaries off Andre Russell in the sixth over helped Sunrisers race to 66 without loss, with Bairstow quickly catching up with de Kock.

The assault gathered pace soon after. De Kock brought up his fifty off 29 balls in the 11th over after Sunrisers surged past 100 in the previous over. Bairstow then cut loose as he got to a 35-ball fifty with a towering six off Keshav Maharaj at the start of the 12th over. He continued to dismantle the Capitals skipper, taking 34 runs in the over with five sixes and a four to effectively end the contest. Bairstow went on to finish on 85* off 45, while de Kock struck two more sixes and took the winning single as he stayed unbeaten on 72 off 39, sealing a commanding win for Sunrisers.

Earlier, after opting to bat, Pretoria Capitals were kept to 176 for 6 on a surface where 182 is considered par. The pitch offered good value for shots early on but grew slower as the innings wore on, bringing changes of pace and cutters into play. Connor Esterhuizen made the most of the better conditions upfront, getting a fluent 33-ball 52, while useful contributions from Bryce Parsons and Wihan Lubbe helped the Capitals reach 91 for 3 at the halfway stage, getting up a good platform for the team.

That momentum was repeatedly checked by a disciplined Sunrisers attack. Lewis Gregory's variations proved effective through the middle overs, while Anrich Nortje struck at key moments, including the removal of Esterhuizen just as he looked to accelerate. From 111 for 3, the Capitals slid to 131 for 6, leaving Sherfane Rutherford to salvage the innings. The left-hander responded with an unbeaten 47 off 22, clattering 22 runs off Adam Milne in the 18th over and clearing the ropes off Marco Jansen in the final over, but the late surge merely lifted the Capitals to a total that was comfortably overhauled.

Brief scores: Pretoria Capitals 176/7 in 20 overs (Connor Esterhuizen 52, Sherfane Rutherford 47*; Anrich Nortje 3-32) lost to Sunrisers Eastern Cape 177/0 in 14.2 overs (Jonny Bairstow 85*, Quinton de Kock 79*) by 10 wickets.