Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Tristan Stubbs admitted he is still coming to terms with his side’s stunning triumph in the SA20 2025–26 final, describing the title win as surreal after a dramatic turnaround against Pretoria Capitals.
Chasing a modest-looking 159, Sunrisers found themselves in deep trouble at 48 for 4 before Stubbs and Matthew Breetzke turned the contest on its head. The pair stitched together an unbeaten 114-run stand, calmly rebuilding before launching a late assault that sealed a six-wicket victory and delivered Sunrisers their third SA20 title in four seasons.
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Stubbs rose to the occasion with a captain’s knock, guiding his team through a tense chase when it mattered most.
“So stoked. I can’t explain it. I don’t know what we did or how we did it, but we actually did it. It was pretty awesome,” Stubbs said after the match.
Reflecting on the decisive partnership, Stubbs said the focus was on staying composed and waiting for momentum to shift.
“We know we bat really well together. We were just looking for one over to get momentum, and fortunately that came around the 16th or 17th over. From there, we just ran with it. Funny things happen under pressure,” he said.
The 23-year-old also credited the collective effort behind Sunrisers’ success, highlighting the experience within the bowling unit and the guidance of senior players throughout the tournament.
“I’ve really enjoyed this month. It’s been a great group to work with. We’ve planned really well, and the bowlers are very experienced, which made things easier. Quinny and I worked closely on bowling changes, and the senior players were outstanding. It’s special to finish like this,” Stubbs added.
The title holds added significance for Stubbs, marking his first SA20 championship as captain after being part of the squad in previous seasons.
‘We feel the hurt’: Maharaj reflects on Capitals’ loss
Pretoria Capitals skipper Keshav Maharaj admitted the defeat would sting but stressed the importance of learning from the experience.
“It’s a could’ve, should’ve, would’ve situation. The boys will hurt for a bit, but I don’t dwell on negatives,” Maharaj said. “We won five of our last eight games and found ways to win under pressure. There’s a lot of inspiration to take, but we need to fix our mistakes if we want to win trophies.”
Sunrisers opener Quinton de Kock was named Player of the Series after finishing the tournament with 390 runs.
(By PTI Inputs)
