A Remarkable Season for Sunrisers Eastern Cape

In a bold declaration on social media, former South Africa seamer Dale Steyn made an impressive prediction on December 30, 2025. “SEC [Sunrisers Eastern Cape] are definitely one of my finalists. Possibly even champions again. But let’s come back to this in two weeks.” This wasn’t an outlandish bet, considering SEC had reached the final three times in three seasons, winning two of those.

As they secured their place in the final once again, for the fourth consecutive time, Steyn shared, “Surprise. Surprise. SEC in the FINAL, again.”

A little over three weeks after Steyn’s original prediction, SEC faced the Pretoria Capitals at Newlands in Cape Town. The task was clear: chase down 159 runs. Tristan Stubbs, who had a mediocre campaign in the World Cup, was joined by Matthew Breetzke. The challenge was daunting—56 runs needed in 24 balls. Lizaad Williams and Lungi Ngidi, who had been economical with just six runs per over, each bowled an over.

Steyn, visibly worried, expressed his concerns about SEC’s confidence. “SEC may have left this a little late. New champions on route,” he posted.

What followed, however, was a remarkable turnaround. Stubbs, included in the T20 World Cup squad due to injuries, delivered a captain’s knock. He turned a 35 off 28 balls into an unbeaten 62 runs off 41 balls. Breetzke matched his performance with a 49-ball, 68-run knock.

Even though Dewald Brevis’ 101-run innings earned him the Player of the Match award, it was Stubbs and Breetzke’s 114-run partnership for the fifth wicket that propelled SEC to their fourth title. Four years, four finals, and three titles—it’s a testament to a sporting dynasty. Similar to the Perth Scorchers, who recently won their sixth Big Bash League (BBL) title in 15 seasons, or American sports teams like the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, the New York Yankees, and the New England Patriots.

The Secret Behind SEC’s Success

The secret to SEC’s success lies in their well-balanced team. Coach Adrian Birrell highlighted, “I think we’ve got a very well-balanced team. No disrespect to others but I think we’ve probably got the most balanced of teams. We’ve got good spin, we’ve got good pace and high-quality batters and an experienced opening pair.”

This balance is evident in their consistent performance. SEC topped the table this season and accumulated the most bonus points in the league stage. Over four seasons, they hold the most wins, the best win-loss ratio, and the highest run total.

From Aiden Markram to Tristan Stubbs, leadership has been handled seamlessly. Stubbs found a reliable ally in Quinton de Kock, who provided support when needed. The decision to pass the captaincy to ‘Stubbo,’ who only had one strong season for the franchise in 2024, reflects the team’s focus on building a cohesive unit rather than highlighting individuals.

“I’ve really enjoyed this month,” said Stubbs in reflection of the season. “I’ve had a great group to work with. We’ve planned really well for games. The bowlers are really experienced, so it’s been easy. Me and Quinny [Quinton de Kock] have had this great thing going where we channelled a lot of the bowling changes. It’s been a whole team effort. The senior players have been awesome. It’s awesome to finish like this.”

Building a Winning Team

As the celebration continued, the journey from the start could not be ignored. At the auction, SEC signed Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje. De Kock finished as the leading run-scorer in the fourth season of the SA20 while Nortje was second on the wicket-taker’s list. Marco Jansen, a wildcard pick, took 13 wickets, making him the SA20’s second-most successful bowler.

Steyn summed up the season perfectly: “SEC lead by Stubbs and the great coach Adi Birrell do it again 🏆. Stubbs you champion! SA20 you’re incredible! SA fans are special! What a tournament! Can’t wait for season 5!”