SA20 2025-26: Jonny Bairstow plunders record 34 runs off Keshav Maharaj’s over

Keshav Maharaj was taken to the cleaners by Jonny Bairstow during Match 14 of the 2025-26 SA20 between Pretoria Capitals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape, as the left-arm spinner ended up conceding 34 runs in a single over on January 5. Maharaj had conceded only 16 runs in two overs before the onslaught by the top-order batter.

The required run rate plummeted drastically from 6.77 to 3.37 in the span of just one over. Maharaj ended up topping an unwanted list of bowling the most expensive over in SA20 history, conceding four more than what the previous record holder Daryn Dupavillon conceded in 2024.

Most expensive overs in SA20:

Bairstow got to his half-century with a six in the over. He then smacked two more maximums towards the deep midwicket region before hitting the fourth ball for a four. Following that, he hit two huge sixes over the bowler’s head as the Eastern Cape brought up 150 in just 12 overs.

The Capitals could not find a way through Bairstow and Quinton de Kock, as the duo stood unbeaten till the end, with the Tristan Stubbs-led unit winning the contest by an emphatic 10-wicket margin with 34 balls to spare. The left-handed de Kock was the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 79 off 41, which comprised five fours and six sixes. He also snapped a couple of catches in the first innings.

The Eastern Cape rose to the top of the table with their third win in SA20 2025-26. Their next two matches are against Durban’s Super Giants on January 9 and 11.