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SA20 2025-26

Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape Prediction & Match Preview – SA20 Final

Our verdict

Sunrisers Eastern Cape

The Sunrisers topped the league stage with 28 points and have the experience of two titles, though the Capitals beat them in Qualifier 1.

Toss pick: Pretoria Capitals

SA20 2025-26Pretoria CapitalsSunrisers Eastern CapeSuperSport Park

The SA20 2025-26 final brings a repeat of the 2023 decider. Sunrisers Eastern Cape are chasing a third title, while Pretoria Capitals are looking for a first.

Pretoria finished second on the table with five wins, edging ahead on net run rate. Under Keshav Maharaj they turned the tables on Eastern Cape in Qualifier 1, having lost to them twice in the league stage, and won by seven wickets to secure a direct place in the final.

Eastern Cape ended the league phase on top with 28 points, even though two of their matches were washed out by bad weather. After the seven-wicket defeat to Pretoria in Qualifier 1, they responded by beating Paarl Royals by the same margin in Qualifier 2 to reach the final. With Jonny Bairstow, Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs in their likely XI, they bring plenty of batting power, while the Capitals will rely on Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi and Lizaad Williams to defend or restrict totals.

Probable XIs

Pretoria Capitals

  1. Will Smeed
  2. Bryce Parsons
  3. Shai Hope (wk)
  4. Dewald Brevis
  5. Connor Esterhuizen
  6. Sherfane Rutherford
  7. Wihan Lubbe
  8. Keshav Maharaj (c)
  9. Lizaad Williams
  10. Tymal Mills
  11. Lungi Ngidi

Sunrisers Eastern Cape

  1. Jonny Bairstow
  2. Quinton de Kock (wk)
  3. Matthew Breetzke
  4. Jordan Hermann
  5. Tristan Stubbs (c)
  6. Lewis Gregory
  7. Marco Jansen
  8. Senuran Muthusamy
  9. Tharindu Rathnayake
  10. Anrich Nortje
  11. Adam Milne

Frequently asked questions

Who is our pick for the SA20 2025-26 final?

Our preview picks Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who finished top of the table, although Pretoria Capitals beat them in Qualifier 1.

How did the two finalists get here?

Pretoria finished second and beat Eastern Cape in Qualifier 1 for a direct final place, while Eastern Cape bounced back to beat Paarl Royals by seven wickets.

Have these teams met in a final before?

Yes, this is a repeat of the 2023 final. Eastern Cape are chasing a third SA20 title and Pretoria their first.

About SA20 2025-26

More SA20 2025-26 previews

All previews
SA20 2025-26 Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Paarl Royals 23 Jan 2026 · Played The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Our pick: Sunrisers Eastern Cape SA20 2025-26 Paarl Royals v Joburg Super Kings 22 Jan 2026 · Played SuperSport Park, Centurion Our pick: Joburg Super Kings SA20 2025-26 Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Pretoria Capitals 21 Jan 2026 · Played Kingsmead, Durban Our pick: Sunrisers Eastern Cape