Shai Hope produced a record-breaking knock before Lungi Ngidi etched his name into SA20 history as Pretoria Capitals defeated Durban’s Super Giants by 15 runs in a thrilling contest.
Hope smashed an unbeaten 118 off 69 balls, the highest individual score in the history of the SA20, hammering nine sixes and nine fours to propel the Capitals to a formidable 201 for 4.
Chasing 202, the Super Giants stayed in the hunt until the very end. Needing 18 runs from the final over with Jos Buttler well set at the crease, the visitors looked poised for a dramatic finish. However, Roston Chase held his nerve, firing in a series of pinpoint yorkers to seal Pretoria’s second win of the season.
Buttler, agonisingly close to his maiden SA20 century, was left stranded on 97 not out as both Kwena Maphaka and Noor Ahmad were run out in the final over.
The night, though, firmly belonged to Hope. The West Indies T20 captain set the tone with a 106-run opening partnership alongside Connor Esterhuizen, who contributed 37. Hope then added a rapid 85 off 44 balls for the second wicket with Chase, ensuring the Capitals maintained momentum throughout the innings.
Durban’s chase began brightly, with new opener Marques Ackerman scoring 27 off 17 balls. Buttler anchored the innings from the other end, but a lack of substantial partnerships hurt the Super Giants. Gideon Peters, playing his first competitive match in nine months, struck twice in quick succession to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen and Evan Jones, after earlier removing Aiden Markram.
Ngidi then turned the match decisively in Pretoria’s favour. The experienced seamer dismissed David Wiese, followed by Sunil Narine, before completing the SA20’s first-ever hat-trick when Gerald Coetzee was caught in the deep.
The victory lifted Pretoria Capitals to fourth on the points table with 11 points, while Durban’s Super Giants slipped to fifth with eight points.
(By PTI Inputs)
Also Read: ‘You start from zero’: Shadab Khan opens up after return
