Advertisement

Coles steers Sunrisers to playoffs with comprehensive victory

cricket14 January 2026 19:06| © MWP
Share

James Coles enjoyed a stunning match for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape as they stormed to the top of the log with a comprehensive 61-run victory against the Joburg Super Kings in their SA20 match at St. George’s Park in Gqeberha on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old Englishman and Quinton de Kock struck contrasting half centuries to lead the home side to a highly competitive total of 178-5 after being asked to bat first and the visitors from the Highveld slumped to 117 all out in reply with Coles claiming 2-34 with his left-arm spin.

Advertisement

De Kock completed his third 50 of the competition in belligerent style with five fours and two pulled sixes in his 54 from 37 balls while 21-year-old Englishman Coles eschewed the aerial route with ten fours and just half a dozen dot balls as he reached 61 from only 34 balls.

Fellow Englishman Jonny Bairstow blasted 18 from 10 deliveries before Nandre Burger removed his off stump while Matthew Breetzke (3) and Jordan Hermann (13) holed out in the deep against spinners Akeal Hosein (4-0-23-1) and Donovan Ferreira (4-0-25-2).

De Kock was trapped lbw by offspinner Donovan Ferreira, captaining JSK for the first time in place of the injured Faf du Plessis, but Tristan Stubbs (23* from 22 balls) was happy to watch a masterful display of gap-finding and running from Coles who crafted and ‘placed’ rather than walloped his boundaries.

James Vince (30) top-scored for JSK but it was Coles, inevitably, who had him stumped by De Kock to finish with 4-0-34-2 before Senuran Muthusamy stymied the middle order with an outstanding analysis of 3-26 from his four overs.

The result saw the Sunrisers romp to the top of the log and, with their fourth bonus point, are now guaranteed a place in the playoffs and virtually assured of a top two finish and a ‘second chance’ at reaching the final with the security of an Eliminator match should they fail to win the Qualifier between the top two teams.

SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE: Jonny Bairstow, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Matthew Breetzke, Jordan Hermann, Tristan Stubbs (captain), Marco Jansen, Lewis Gregory, James Coles, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Adam Milne.

JOBURG SUPER KINGS: James Vince, Matthew de Villiers, Michael Pepper, Wiaan Mulder, Donovan Ferreira (captain), Rivaldo Moonsamy (wkt), Dian Forrester, Akeal Hosein, Richard Gleeson, Nandre Burger, Imran Tahir.

Advertisement