Sunrisers Eastern Cape once again proved they are the dominant force in SA20 cricket, securing their third title in four seasons with a composed six-wicket victory over Pretoria Capitals in the final at Newlands, Cape Town. Despite a breathtaking century from Dewald Brevis for the Capitals, Sunrisers’ calm chase and late-innings authority carried them to another championship.
Put in to bat first, Pretoria Capitals relied heavily on Brevis to construct a competitive total. The 22-year-old produced one of the finest innings in SA20 final history, scoring a magnificent 101 from 56 deliveries. His knock was packed with intent and flair, featuring seven towering sixes and a series of crisp boundaries that briefly swung momentum Pretoria’s way.
Brevis looked in complete control from the moment he settled at the crease, punishing anything short and driving elegantly through the covers. With wickets tumbling around him, he carried the Capitals’ batting effort almost single-handedly, showing maturity well beyond his years on the biggest stage.
However, Pretoria struggled to build partnerships around their star batter. Bryce Parsons provided some resistance with a measured 30 from 30 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford chipped in with a quick 17 from 11. Outside those contributions, the Capitals failed to capitalise on Brevis’ dominance, losing wickets regularly and being unable to push beyond a par total.
Sunrisers’ bowling attack, led superbly by Marco Jansen, ensured the Capitals were kept in check. The left-arm seamer delivered a match-defining spell, claiming 3-10 and repeatedly breaking Pretoria’s momentum. His ability to strike at crucial moments prevented the Capitals from fully exploiting the platform Brevis had built.
In the end, Pretoria finished on 158-7 from their 20 overs — a total that felt competitive but perhaps slightly underwhelming given the brilliance of their top scorer.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape began their chase confidently but were soon rocked by early setbacks. Jonny Bairstow was dismissed for a golden duck in the very first over, trapped by Lungi Ngidi, sending an early ripple of belief through the Capitals’ camp.
That belief grew as Sunrisers slumped to 48-4 by the ninth over. The top order had failed to fire, and the pressure was firmly on the defending champions. With the required run rate creeping upward and wickets falling, the match hung delicately in the balance.
Enter Matthew Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs.
The South African internationals produced a partnership that defined the final and underlined Sunrisers’ remarkable composure under pressure. Batting with clarity and intent, the pair rebuilt the innings before accelerating at exactly the right moment.
Breetzke anchored the chase with a calm, unbeaten 68 from 49 balls, rotating the strike efficiently and punishing loose deliveries. At the other end, Stubbs played the aggressor’s role, smashing an unbeaten 62 from 41 balls and ensuring the scoreboard kept moving at pace.
Together, they added an unbroken 114 runs from just 65 deliveries for the fifth wicket — a partnership that extinguished Pretoria’s hopes and showcased Sunrisers’ championship pedigree.
With 42 required from the final three overs, Sunrisers shifted gears decisively. Gideon Peters’ 18th over went for 21 runs, swinging momentum firmly back in Sunrisers’ favour. Ngidi conceded 12 in the penultimate over, leaving the Capitals needing a miracle.
Nine runs were required from the final over, bowled by Bryce Parsons. Stubbs wasted no time in sealing the title, launching two consecutive sixes to end the contest in emphatic fashion and spark jubilant celebrations among the Sunrisers players and supporters.
Sunrisers reached 162-4 in 19.2 overs, completing a composed chase with four balls to spare.
The victory confirmed Sunrisers Eastern Cape as the most successful franchise in SA20 history, having now lifted the trophy three times in four seasons. Their only blemish came in last year’s final, where they were beaten by MI Cape Town — a result they have emphatically responded to with this latest triumph.
For Pretoria Capitals, the defeat was bittersweet. Brevis’ extraordinary century will be remembered as one of the tournament’s standout moments, but the lack of support around him ultimately proved costly. Despite reaching the final, the Capitals were once again left searching for their first SA20 title.
At Newlands, under the lights and in front of a packed crowd, Sunrisers demonstrated why they continue to set the standard in the competition — combining resilience, experience and clinical execution when it mattered most.
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