Hope hundred and Ngidi hat-trick seal dramatic Capitals victory

Shai Hope's unbeaten 118 and a historic hat-trick from Lungi Ngidi helped Pretoria Capitals hold off Durban's Super Giants in a tense finish at Kingsmead. Hope's first SA20 hundred lifted Capitals to 201/4 before Ngidi became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the tournament. Despite a late scare from Jos Buttler, who finished on a 52-ball 97, Capitals closed out a 15-run win, with Roston Chase holding his nerve in the final over.

Batting first, Capitals were set up by a commanding opening stand between Hope and Connor Esterhuizen. The pair added 101 in 11 overs, with Esterhuizen playing the supporting role while Hope took charge, making full use of the short square boundary and driving fluently through the off side.

Esterhuizen fell for 37, caught at deep midwicket off David Wiese, but Hope continued almost uninterrupted. Roston Chase joined him and the two added 85 in quick time. Chase found the boundary a few times but was retired out late in the innings, the first such instance in SA20, as Capitals tried to push on at the death. The decision did not quite work, with Sherfane Rutherford dismissed cheaply and Dewald Brevis only able to provide a brief burst.

Hope reached his hundred in the 17th over and finished unbeaten on 118 from 69 balls. However, disciplined bowling at the end from Kwena Maphaka and Gerald Coetzee meant Capitals were kept to 201/4, a total that still left the contest open.

Durban's Super Giants began the chase with intent but could not build partnerships. Marques Ackermann and Kane Williamson made quick starts before falling, while Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen were unable to stay long enough to ease the pressure. That left Buttler to carry the chase almost on his own.

The turning point came in the 18th over when Ngidi produced a remarkable hat-trick. He removed David Wiese, Sunil Narine and Gerald Coetzee with a mix of slower balls and a well-directed short delivery, leaving Buttler stranded with the tail and swinging the game back towards Capitals.

Buttler, though, refused to give in. He attacked Lizaad Williams for 22 runs in the 19th over, dragging the equation down and keeping hopes alive heading into the last over. With 18 needed, Capitals turned to Chase, who delivered under pressure. He landed his yorkers, forced risky running and effected two run-outs, sealing the match with Buttler left unbeaten after a valiant lone effort.

Capitals will take confidence from a much-improved performance after their previous defeat, built around Hope's commanding hundred and Ngidi's match-turning spell, while Super Giants were left to rue another chase that promised much but fell short in the end.

Brief Scores: Pretoria Capitals 201/4 (Hope 118*; Wiese 1-34) beat Durban's Super Giants 186 all out in 19.4 overs (Buttler 97*; Peters 3-35, Ngidi 3-39) by 15 runs