Venue: St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth
Date: January 22, 2025
Points Table Snapshot
| Team | Played | Win | Loss | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI Cape Town | 6 | 3 | 2 | 16 |
| Paarl Royals | 5 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
| Joburg Super Kings | 5 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Sunrisers Eastern Cape | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| Pretoria Capitals | 5 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Durban Super Giants | 6 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
Match Preview
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) and Pretoria Capitals (PC) find themselves in a pivotal clash to keep playoff hopes alive. The Sunrisers have the momentum after back-to-back wins, while the Capitals are reeling with only one win in five games.
Pitch Report
- Venue: St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth.
- The pitch typically favors batters, but bowlers, especially spinners, find assistance as the game progresses.
- A score of 160-170 could be competitive.
- The team chasing has historically had the advantage.
Team Previews
Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC)
- Recent Form: After starting with three losses, SEC has won their last two games and looks to continue their resurgence.
- Key Players:
- Aiden Markram: A reliable middle-order batter and a handy bowler.
- David Bedingham: Key opener with a quick-scoring ability.
- Marco Jansen: A dynamic all-rounder contributing with both bat and ball.
- Richard Gleeson: Leader of the bowling attack, showing excellent control in the previous games.
- Strengths:
- Depth in batting with power-hitters in the lower middle order.
- A varied bowling attack featuring seamers and spinners.
Pretoria Capitals (PC)
- Recent Form: Struggling to find consistency, with just one win in five matches.
- Key Players:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Explosive opener capable of setting the tone early.
- Will Jacks: An all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball.
- Rilee Rossouw: Experienced batter who can stabilize the middle order.
- James Neesham: Dependable lower-order hitter and effective bowler.
- Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent middle overs bowling.
- Over-reliance on top-order batters for runs.
Predicted Playing XIs
Sunrisers Eastern Cape
- David Bedingham
- Zak Crawley
- Tom Abell
- Jordan Hermann
- Aiden Markram (c)
- Tristan Stubbs (wk)
- Marco Jansen
- Liam Dawson
- Simon Harmer
- Richard Gleeson
- Ottneil Baartman
Pretoria Capitals
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Will Jacks
- Will Smeed
- Rilee Rossouw (c)
- Kyle Verreynne
- James Neesham
- Marques Ackerman
- Senuran Muthusamy
- Eathan Bosch
- Tiaan van Vuuren
- Migael Pretorius
Key Battles to Watch
- Aiden Markram vs James Neesham: Both are all-rounders who can change the course of the game in their respective departments.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Richard Gleeson: The explosive opener against the experienced bowler could set the tone for the Capitals’ innings.
- Marco Jansen vs Rilee Rossouw: Jansen’s left-arm pace could trouble Rossouw in the middle overs.
Fantasy Cricket Tips
Captaincy Picks
- Aiden Markram: His all-round ability makes him a top choice for captain.
- Will Jacks: Capable of contributing in all facets of the game.
Differential Picks
- Tristan Stubbs: A clean striker of the ball and a reliable finisher.
- Aliss Al Islam: If he plays, his wicket-taking ability could be valuable.
Match Prediction
Scenario 1: Sunrisers Eastern Cape Win the Toss and Bat First
- Predicted Powerplay Score: 45-50
- Final Score: 160-170
- Winner: Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Scenario 2: Pretoria Capitals Win the Toss and Bowl First
- Predicted Powerplay Score: 40-45
- Final Score: 150-160
- Winner: Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Final Prediction
Sunrisers Eastern Cape are favorites, given their recent form and all-round strength. Pretoria Capitals will need an exceptional performance from their top-order batters and death bowlers to turn things around.
Predicted Winner: Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Watch more match predictions:BPL 2024-2025: Match 29 – Dhaka Capitals (DC) vs Chittagong Kings (CHK) Match Prediction