SA20 league has firmly established its hierarchy, and at the top sits an orange-colored dynasty. On 25 January 2026 at the famous Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, Sunrisers Eastern Cape defeated and engraved their names in the book of records Pretoria Capitals in a high-stakes finale. With this win, Sunrisers won their third SA20 title in a row, proving to be the most dominant franchise in South African T20 history.
The night was defined by tactical brilliance, a solid mid-range recovery and a post-match moment that has since gone viral. As the winning runs were scored, the cameras immediately turned to the Sunrisers Kavya Maranhis overwhelming joy perfectly captured the scale of the achievement.
Kavya Maran shares an emotional hug with captain Tristan Stubbs during the festive celebrations
Soon after the winning boundary, the celebrations moved from the pitch to the dugout. In the heartwarming scene, which is fast becoming popular on sports platforms, Sunrisers owner Kavya was seen sprinting onto the field to congratulate her team. The highlight of the celebration was a joyous hug between Maran and the captain Tristan Stubbs.
Stubbs, who led the side with great composure throughout the tournament, was given a celebratory hug by Maran, whose passion for the Orange Army is well-documented. For fans, the gesture symbolized a deep connection within the franchise, a blend of corporate support and true sporting emotion. The video of the hug has become the defining image of the 2026 season, showing the leader and owner basking in the glory of a “three-peat” that many thought was impossible in such a competitive league.
We present the video:
Sunrisers Eastern Cape owner Kavya Maran lived up to every moment of her team’s third straight win. #BetwaySA20 Title 👌#PCvSEC Welcome to #Incredible pic.twitter.com/53nyeNyuwk
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 26, 2026
Sunrisers Eastern Cape won their third ever SA20 title
The final was a tactical rollercoaster. Choosing to bat first, the Capitals were immediately in trouble. Marco Jansen In the first over, he lived up to his big-match reputation, dismissing Connor Esterhuizen for a duck. while Devald Brewis played a magnificent, lone batsman innings, smashing 101 off 55 balls, as the rest of the Capitals struggled against a disciplined Sunrisers attack. Jansen’s clinical figures of 3/10 and Sipamla’s crucial overs restricted the Capitals to just 158/7.
The pursuit of the Suns began on shaky ground. Newlands offers plenty of surface and early strikes for bowlers Good luck and Lizaad Williams He left the reigning champion at 48/4 in the ninth over. With the pressure of the final assembly, Sunrisers needed a miracle.
Enter it Matthew Bretzke and Captain Stubbs. The couple showed incredible temperament, refusing to succumb to the increasingly demanding ratio. Breetzke anchored to perfection, finishing with an unbeaten 68 off 49, while Stubbs scored at the right moments. 63 to 41*. His unbeaten partnership of 114 for the fifth wicket nullified the Capitals’ bowling plans.
Eastern Cape reached their target of 159 with four balls to spare, finishing on 162/4. The victory not only secured the trophy but also cemented Stubbs’ legacy as a championship-winning captain backed by an owner whose heart beat every run his team scored.
Also READ: ‘Creating thermors’: Ravichandran Ashwin hails Sourav Ganguly’s coaching masterclass at SA20 2026
