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The 2025–26 season of the SA20 concluded on a thrilling note on Sunday as Sunrisers Eastern Cape lifted the trophy after edging past Pretoria Capitals in the final at Cape Town’s Newlands Stadium. With this victory, Eastern Cape further cemented their dominance in the league, claiming their third SA20 title in just four seasons.

Chasing a modest target of 159, Sunrisers found themselves in serious trouble early on, slipping to 48 for four inside nine overs. The pressure, however, brought out the best in Tristan Stubbs and Matthew Breetzke, who produced a match-winning, unbeaten partnership to turn the game on its head. Stubbs scored a composed 63 not out, while Breetzke complemented him perfectly with an unbeaten 68, guiding their team home with four balls remaining.

The decisive moment came in the final over when Sunrisers required nine runs. Stubbs rose to the occasion, launching two towering sixes to seal the championship in emphatic fashion. As the winning runs were struck, co-owner Kavya Maran’s animated celebrations in the stands instantly caught attention, with her jubilant reaction quickly spreading across social media.

Earlier in the evening, Pretoria Capitals were powered by a sensational innings from Dewald Brevis, who struck a brilliant 101 off 56 deliveries to carry his side to 158 for seven. However, his dismissal late in the innings proved costly, as Pretoria managed only three runs from their final ten balls, failing to capitalize on the platform Brevis had set.

The packed Newlands crowd witnessed a high-quality contest that swung dramatically in the closing stages. Reflecting on the victory, Stubbs admitted the pressure was intense but credited the calm understanding he shares with Breetzke for getting the team through. He described the partnership as one built on trust, timing, and the ability to stay composed when it mattered most.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s latest triumph once again underlined their reputation as the most successful franchise in SA20 history, delivering yet another memorable night for their fans.