Pretoria Capitals off to winning start with 23-run victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape

A half-century from Phil Salt and a smash and grab 29 from Wayne Parnell helped the Capitals to 193 for 6, a total they defended with ease

Gqeberha: Pretoria Capitals 193-6, Sunrisers Eastern Cape 170-5 - Pretoria Capitals won by 23 runs

Scorecard

Pretoria Capitals made a winning start to life in the SA20, defeating Sunrisers Eastern Cape by 23 runs in Gqeberha.

Batting first, the Capitals endured a nightmare first half of their innings, slipping to 14 for 2 inside two overs following the early departures of Will Jacks and Rilee Rossouw and later 80 for 5 in the 10th.

However, opener Phil Salt stood firm throughout this period and later burst into life in the company of Jimmy Neesham. The pair put on 77 runs off 50 deliveries for the sixth wicket before Neesham was removed by Ottniel Baartman for 37 (28) in the 18th.

^{Wayne Parnell smashed some crucial late runs [SA20]}

Wayne Parnell ensured the Capitals finished their innings with a bang, blasting 29 runs – including two fours and three sixes – off just nine deliveries to steer his side beyond the 190-mark.

Salt finished unbeaten on 77 off 47 deliveries (11 fours) while there were wickets for Baartman (2 for 45), Aiden Markram (2 for 17), Marco Jansen (1 for 31) and Sisanda Magala (1 for 35).

In reply, JJ Smuts scored a half-century of his own for Sunrisers, striking 66 runs from 51 balls, but struggled to form any meaningful partnerships as the batting side slipped to 68 for 4.

Together with Tom Abell, he put on 65 runs (39 balls) for the fifth wicket but by then it was too little, too late.

Smuts was eventually dismissed by Adil Rashid in the 17th and while James Fuller closed the match with a flourish, scoring 27 runs off 12 balls, the points were destined for Pretoria.

Abell finished with 40 off 24 balls while Anrich Nortje (2 for 18) and Eathan Bosch (0 for 27) were the pick of the bowlers.