NEW DELHI: Following the new year celebration, the cricketing extravaganza ensued in South Africa with the inaugural edition of SA20. Promising to captivate cricket fans with thrilling contests, stellar performances, and an electrifying atmosphere, the shorter format of the game was about to greet 2023 with much enthusiasm.
With six franchises, namely MI Cape Town, Joburg Super Kings, Paarl Royals, Durban’s Super Giants, Pretoria Capitals, and Sunrisers Eastern Cape, taking part in it, fans could see the drama and action coming from far away.
As the tournament kicked off on January 10, each team played 10 group-stage matches in a round-robin format, culminating in the playoffs and a high-stakes final.
High-octane matches
In the opening match of the SA20 2023, MI Cape Town kicked off the tournament in style, defeating Paarl Royals by 8 wickets. In the 26th match of the tournament, Pretoria Capitals salvaged a last-wicket victory over MI Cape Town on the final ball of the game. In the high-scoring triumph, Durban’s Super Giants posted a mammoth 254/4 against Pretoria Capitals, displaying their batting might. The Super Giants wrapped up the proceedings with a 151-run victory.
In the final stretch of the tournament, Pretoria Capitals emerged as the team to beat, winning seven of their 10 matches to top the table. Joburg Super Kings also stood out, finishing second with consistent performances. However, as far as the last laugh was concerned, it was someone else’s to make.
The eventual winner of the first edition of SA20, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, co-owned by India-based SUN Group’s Kavya Kalanithi Maran, made a stunning comeback after a slow start to the campaign. Having clinched crucial victories, Sunrisers secured a playoff spot.
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | 10 | 7 | 3 | 32 | 0.927 |
| JSK | 10 | 6 | 3 | 27 | -0.111 |
| SEC | 10 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 0.316 |
| PR | 10 | 4 | 5 | 19 | -0.293 |
| DSG | 10 | 4 | 5 | 19 | -0.319 |
| MICT | 10 | 3 | 7 | 13 | -0.500 |
The first semi-final saw Pretoria Capitals overpower Paarl Royals, while Sunrisers Eastern Cape outgunned Joburg Super Kings in a high-scoring second semi-final. Now it was the battle between the largest city of Gqeberha and South Africa’s administrative capital.
The Grand Finale
On February 11, SA20 2023 hosted its first finale in Johannesburg, with Sunrisers Eastern Cape emerging victorious by 4-wickets with 22 balls to spare, chasing down a modest target of 136 set by the Pretoria Capitals.
The Capitals struggled to gain momentum, with Roelof van der Merwe’s stellar 4-wicket haul restricting them to 135 despite Rilee Rossouw’s 19 off 11.
In response, the Eastern Cape’s Adam Rossington blazed through with a match-winning 57 off 30 balls, supported by crucial contributions from Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen.
Anrich Nortje’s two wickets for the Capitals couldn’t prevent Eastern Cape from clinching the title in what was a dominant display by the Men in Orange.
Standout Performances
Individually, Jos Buttler of Paarl Royals led the run-scoring charts with 391 runs at an average of 39.10. His counterpart and South Africa’s veteran Faf du Plessis, of Joburg Super Kings, followed closely, scoring 369 runs and leading his side with finesse.
On the bowling front, veteran Roelof van der Merwe of Sunrisers Eastern Cape dominated, claiming 20 wickets at an impressive average of 9.55, ably followed by Pretoria Capitals’ Anrich Nortjewith the same number of wickets.
While entertaining fans, SA20 also put South Africa’s potential into the public’s eyes, showcasing the nation’s capability to host a high-quality T20 league. Emerging talents like Gerald Coetzee, who had then notched up 17 wickets, gained recognition alongside veterans like Van der Merwe.
ALSO SEE: SA20: Full list of updated squads after 2025 auction
