Jonny Bairstow unleashed a ferocious assault on Pretoria Capitals captain Keshav Maharaj, smashing 34 runs in a single over. This explosive performance on January 5, 2026, powered Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a dominant 10-wicket victory at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The Betway SA20 Season 4 clash saw Bairstow’s 6,6,6,4,6,6 sequence etch a new record for the league’s most expensive over. Sunrisers Eastern Cape now sit atop the points table with 17 points, securing a crucial bonus point.
Record-Setting Chase and Partnership
Pretoria Capitals batted first in the day-night fixture, posting 176 for 7 in their 20 overs. Connor Esterhuizen top-scored for PC with 52, but Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Anrich Nortje claimed 3-32 to disrupt their middle order. Despite early wickets, the Capitals set a competitive target for SEC.
In reply, Sunrisers Eastern Cape openers Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow made light work of the chase. They reached 177 for no loss in just 14.2 overs, completing the highest opening stand in SEC’s SA20 history. De Kock hit an unbeaten 79 off 44 balls, while Bairstow finished on 85 not out from 45 deliveries.
Bairstow Goes “Beast Mode”
The match turned decisively in the 12th over when Bairstow targeted Keshav Maharaj. Before this over, Bairstow was on 45 from 34 balls, playing a supporting role to de Kock. He launched Maharaj’s first three deliveries for sixes, sending the ball deep into the stands.
A boundary off the fourth ball briefly halted his onslaught. “Yes, of course [was looking to hit six sixes], like when you’ve got three away and you’re thinking, okay, maybe let’s try and give it a go,” Bairstow later admitted during a media interaction, as Times of India reported. He then hit two more maximums, taking 34 runs off the over. The assault left Maharaj with nowhere to hide.
Implications for the Table
This win marked Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s first-ever victory against Pretoria Capitals at Centurion. The rapid chase, fueled by Bairstow’s heroics, secured them a bonus point. SEC now leads the SA20 Season 4 table by two points, halfway through the group stage. They are ahead of Johannesburg Super Kings, who hold a game in hand.
For Pretoria Capitals, this was a difficult home loss, their second at Centurion. Captain Keshav Maharaj expressed his disappointment. “It’s very disappointing to get two losses at home in front of a brilliant crowd here,” Maharaj stated at the post-match presentation, according to ESPN Cricinfo.
PC has just one win from five matches, slipping to fifth place and outside the playoff spots. Maharaj vowed a rebound, adding, “So hopefully come Wednesday, we get back to winning ways, back to the drawing board and back to basics.”
Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s commanding performance has strengthened their playoff credentials. Pretoria Capitals face a quick turnaround, needing to find form to climb back into contention.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee