NEW DELHI: Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape registered a 52-run victory over the Pretoria Capitals to claim a third consecutive bonus point win on Wednesday evening.
With 15 points, the Sunrisers are still in third position, and the Capitals are still in fifth place with nine points.
After being reduced to 53/5 following an outstanding early burst by Capitals seamer Eathan Bosch (3/33) and new Australian signing Jason Behrendorff, the back-to-back winners had to demonstrate their character.
With 26 wickets, Bosch has surpassed former captain Wayne Parnell as the Capitals’ top wicket-taker, breaking his previous record of 24.
In order to get to 149/7, the Sunrisers needed a captain’s innings, and Aiden Markram delivered with a powerful 68 not out off 55 balls.
Liam Dawson (25 off 11 balls) and Marco Jansen (24 off 24 balls) provided Markram with bottom order support to shift the tide in the home team’s favor.
With a superb new-ball spell, Jansen is quickly emerging as a leading candidate for Betway SA20 Season 3 Most Valuable Player (MVP).
With the help of Richard Gleeson (1/22), the lanky left-arm seamer destroyed the Capitals top order with figures of 3/7, leaving the visitors in ruins at 28/4.
Rookie Keagan Lion-Cachet, 22, showed that he has the talent and disposition to thrive at this level after the Capitals gave him his SA20 debut.
Together with Marques Ackerman, the right-hander scored 28 to give the Sky Blues some hope.
But Dawson (3/17) quickly dismissed both to seal another bonus point victory.
