Bairstow smashes 34 in an over as Sunrisers beat Capitals in SA20

4 days ago 2

Jonny Bairstow hit a blistering 85 not out from 45 balls, including 34 in a Keshav Maharaj over, as Sunrisers Eastern Cape thrashed Pretoria Capitals in the SA20.

The 36-year-old Yorkshireman, who last played for England in 2024, shared an unbroken opening stand of 177 with South Africa left-hander Quinton de Kock (79* from 41) as Sunrisers raced to a 10-wicket win.

The experienced opening pair needed only 14.2 overs to overhaul Pretoria's 176-7, combining for 12 sixes - six apiece - and 13 fours at Centurion.

De Kock had been the slightly more aggressive of the two, reaching his half-century from 29 balls, before Bairstow exploded in the 12th over.

Up against South Africa left-arm spinner Maharaj, Bairstow launched the first ball high over mid-wicket to bring up his fifty from 35 balls before nailing two more sixes over the same region.

The prospect of six sixes in an over ended with a four next ball but two huge straight sixes ended a mammoth over - the most expensive in the SA20's short history - and put Sunrisers on the cusp of victory.

Earlier, Anrich Nortje took 3-32 for Sunrisers, with Connor Esterhuizen, who top-scored for Pretoria with 52 from 33, among his scalps.

Sherfane Rutherford added an unbeaten 47 from 22 late in the innings to boost the Capitals' total but, once Bairstow and De Kock got going, it was never going to be enough.

Victory puts Sunrisers top of the table on 17 points with Pretoria down in fifth on seven.