SA20: Jonny Bairstow needed just one over to completely flip the game on its head. Six balls were enough for him to stamp his authority and light up SuperSport Park in Centurion on Monday night. Facing Keshav Maharaj, Bairstow smashed 34 runs in a single over, a burst that did more than decide the match. It sent SA20 2025-26 into a frenzy.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape were chasing 177, a total that still looked competitive. Then Bairstow took charge. In a matter of minutes, what seemed like a contest turned into a one-sided affair.
Jonny Bairstow vs Keshav Maharaj: the over that blew the chase wide open
The defining moment came in the 12th over of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape innings. Pretoria Capitals were hanging in there, hoping for a breakthrough. Bairstow had other plans.
11.1 Short on the stumps. Jonny Bairstow was quick to read it and pulled Maharaj deep into the mid-wicket stands. SIX. The fifty came up in emphatic fashion.
11.2 Full and on the stumps. Bairstow got low, slog-swept, and sent the ball 92 metres over cow corner. SIX again.
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11.3 Good length on off. Still not good enough. Bairstow got under it and launched it over mid-wicket. SIX.
11.4 Another slog sweep. A thick inside edge, racing away to deep square leg. FOUR.
11.5 Full once more. Thumped straight over long-on. SIX.
11.6 Keshav Maharaj had one last go. Full and straight, but Bairstow punished it back over the bowler’s head. SIX. Thirty-four runs from the over. The game was effectively done.
The sequence felt unreal. 6,6,6,6,4,6. Pure entertainment and instant talking point.
— crictalk (@crictalk7) January 6, 2026
The moment that defined SA20 2025-26
It did not take long for the clips to spread. Within minutes, the over was everywhere on X, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups. Fans called it one of the finest displays of shot-making this season. Experts broke down how Bairstow took apart spin bowling with sharp intent, perfect balance, and raw power.
In a tournament known for big hits and bold batting, this over stood out. It was not wild swinging. It was smart, controlled dominance. Jonny Bairstow judged the length early, committed fully to every shot, and backed his strength. Doing that against an experienced spinner like Maharaj made the statement even stronger.
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