Opting to bat first, the Eastern Cape posted a mammoth total of 208/4 on the board, courtesy of a quickfire half-century by Marco Jansen.
The visitors had a contrasting start to their innings as they lost opener Dawid Malan (2) with just eight runs on the board in 2.4 overs.
But Tom Abell joined Jordan Hermann and launched an astounding recovery with a 78-run partnership.
Abell was the core aggressor of the anchoring partnership but failed to stretch his counterattacking knock as he fell victim to Tabraiz Shamsi just four short of his well-deserved fifty.
He scored 46 off 25 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries and a six.
Meanwhile, Hermann, who was struggling to score freely, followed Abell’s footsteps just an over later. He scored a scratchy 36 off 37 deliveries, hitting three boundaries and a six.
Skipper Aiden Markram had a brief stay at the crease as he could score a mere nine off 10 deliveries before perishing in the 16th over.
His dismissal had Eastern Cape reduced to 121/4 in 15.3 overs but Marco Jansen turned the game on its head with a sensational knock.
The right-handed batter smashed four boundaries and six sixes on his way to an unbeaten 71 which came off just 31 deliveries.
Wicketkeeper batter Tristan Stubbs supported Jansen at the backend with a brisk 22-run cameo. His 10-ball knock featured one boundary and two sixes.
For the Royals, Evan Jones bagged two wickets while Shamsi and Wihan Lubbe made one scalp each.
In pursuit of a mammoth 209-run target, the Royals could accumulate 164/7 in the allotted overs despite a solid start.
Jason Roy and Jos Buttler provided a promising start to the home side, adding 68 runs for the first wicket before the former perished in the eighth over.
Roy scored 32 off 23 deliveries, smashing one boundary and three sixes.
Meanwhile, Buttler stood his ground firm and notched up a gritty half-century but failed to continue as he fell victim to Beyers Swanepoel in the 13th over.
He remained the top-scorer for the Royals with a 45-ball 64, featuring six boundaries and two sixes.
His dismissal ignited a collapse in the Royals’ batting lineup which also halted the flow of runs for the home side and they eventually fell short by 44 runs.
Swanepoel, Jansen, and Liam Dawson took two wickets each for the Eastern Cape while Daniel Worrall picked one.
The 44-run victory strengthened Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s command on the second spot in the SA20 standings while Paar Royals remained third.