Parsons' all-round show, Brevis' blitz power Pretoria Capitals into SA20 final

An all-round show from Bryce Parsons and a blistering half-century from Dewald Brevis powered Pretoria Capitals into their second SA20 final with a seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the first Qualifier in Durban. Parsons' 3 for 10 in the death overs was instrumental in the Capitals restricting the Sunrisers to 170/7. Parsons then came up with a fine 60 off 44 balls while Brevis struck a belligerent 75 not out off 38, which included seven sixes, as the Capitals reached the target in 18.3 overs.

The Capitals' chase was shaped by composure after early disruption. Shai Hope fell inside the PowerPlay, but Bryce Parsons settled quickly, riding the bounce and pulling with authority whenever the length erred short. Connor Esterhuizen grew into the innings alongside him, the pair ensuring a steady start that took the Capitals past 50 in the seventh over. The decisive phase unfolded once Dewald Brevis joined Parsons following the dismissal of Esterhuizen (bowled by Chris Green). Brevis announced himself with a four and a six off Anrich Nortje in the 10th over, helping the Capitals to 77/2 at the halfway stage.

Brevis continued to score freely, as did Parsons, who brought up a 40-ball fifty. The Capitals were 136 for 2 at the end of the 16th over, and 147 for 2 at the end of the 17th, with Brevis having raced to a 30-ball fifty with a six off Marco Jansen. Sunrisers sensed a brief opening when Nortje bowled Parsons for 60 but Brevis closed out the game in emphatic fashion. He tore into Lewis Gregory in the 18th over, drilling three sixes in four balls as the Capitals raced home with nine balls to spare.

Earlier, after opting to bat, Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow provided a steady start, striking two fours each inside the first four overs and the former also hit a six off Roston Chase before the West Indian slipped one past the left-hander's sweep for the first wicket. But Bairstow ensured momentum didn't stall, and with Jordan Hermann settling in alongside him, the Sunrisers closed the PowerPlay at 49 for 1.

The innings gathered pace through the middle overs as Bairstow manipulated the field cleverly, used the reverse sweep to counter spin, and punished anything even marginally short. He brought up a 35-ball half-century and Hermann batted positively at the other end as the second wicket pair put on an 81-run stand in quick time. The Sunrisers crossed 100 in the 11th over but Bairstow fell two overs later, trapped leg-before by Keshav Maharaj. Nevertheless, at the end of the 14th over, the Sunrisers had surged to 125 for 2, looking for a total pushing 200 before the innings took a dramatic turn.

That shift was orchestrated by Parsons. Introduced at the start of the 15th over, he produced a spell of remarkable control and deception: 3 wickets across three overs, including miserly returns in the 15th, 17th and 19th, ripping the heart out of Sunrisers' acceleration plans. He had Hermann bowled for 41 before Maharaj accounted for the wicket of Jansen. It became 134/5 in the 17th when Green was stumped off Parsons, and in the 19th over, he had Matthew Breetzke trapped in front, leaving the Sunrisers at 150/6. That they got to 170 was thanks to James Coles, who struck two fours and a six off Lizaad Williams, but the total ultimately proved insufficient.

@B0$ Sunrisers Eastern Cape 170/7 in 20 overs (Jonny Bairstow 50, Jordan Hermann 41; Bryce Parsons 3-10, Keshav Maharaj 2-24) lost to Pretoria Capitals 172/3 in 18.3 overs (Dewald Brevis 75*, Bryce Parsons 60; Anrich Nortje 1-33) by 7 wickets.