After they were dubbed underdogs, the Pretoria Capitals have defied all odds in the SA20. A win against MI Cape Town on Monday saw them build a commendable lead as the league is set to take a break. | ✍️ Avuyile Sawula

The Pretoria Capitals continued their fine form after defeating MI Cape Town by 52 runs at Newlands on Monday night.

Entering the SA20 League as one of the underdog sides, the Capitals were hardly given a chance, particularly because of the number of “big names” in their team.

The Pretoria outfit, however, has thrived under the leadership of Graham Ford and Jacques Kallis, winning five of their seven matches and sitting comfortably atop the log with 23 points.

According to Capitals fast bowler Anrich Nortje, the camaraderie in the side has been good, with individual players putting their hands up and helping the team build momentum.

“It’s been good so far, the spirit has been good, and the team has been good,” said Nortje.

“Obviously, losing two matches was not ideal, but I think the way the guys have been playing and the way we’ve been batting as well, especially our starts, has been unreal.

“Will Jacks, Kusal Mendis, Phil Salt, and everyone else chipping in later on, all of that has helped the team get some sort of momentum.”

Nortje’s side has played in five different venues across their seven matches so far. Due to this, they’ve had to face different conditions and adapt to certain match situations. He admits that consistency has assisted them in navigating these challenges.

“It’s just trying to be more consistent in what we want to do,” added Nortje.

“Sometimes you get a little bit more bounce in the highveld than here. Playing in Durban, I thought we played well, and then Paarl was a bit of a hiccup, so I’m just happy that we stuck to what we do best.”

With the SA20 scheduled to take a break to accommodate the crucial ODI series between South Africa and England, Nortje says contributing to the team and carrying out his plans will be critical.

“It’s going to be a good challenge, and they [England] are a very good team as well.”

“At this stage, I’ll just try and focus on my role and what I need to contribute to the team – there’s not much more I can do.”

“I need to try and hit my lengths in the games – be on top of my plans and execute the plans – so it’s going to be more or less the same just in a longer format.”

He also added how excited he was about the prospects of working with caretaker coach Shukri Conrad.

“I’ve never worked with him before, so I’m excited to see what he’ll bring to the table and how we’ll proceed.”

The Pretoria Capitals will return to SA20 action on the 4th of February with a clash against MI Cape Town at SuperSport Park.