Betway SA20 makes roaring debut

If capacity crowds are the simplest way of measuring a sporting tournament’s success then the SA20 has enjoyed the most successful first week of competition in the history of domestic T20 leagues since the Indian Premier League debuted in 2008.

Large crowds were expected at Newlands, SuperSport Park and Boland Park but it has been years since Kingsmead and St. George’s Park were full – the ‘sold out’ signs were seen at all five while early indications are that the Wanderers will follow suit when the Joburg Super Kings finally take their bow at the Bull Ring.

It comes as no surprise, either, that the cricket has been of such a high standard with player performances inevitably raised by the presence of thousands of fans creating an atmosphere few will have experienced before.

England captain Jos Buttler (51) and David Miller (42) rose to the occasion in the opening game at Newlands helping the Paarl Royals post a respectable 142-7 but another England superstar, Jofra Archer (3-27) was also at his best after an 18-month injury lay-off.

Rising star Dewald Brevis (70*) and Ryan Rickelton (42) led MI Cape Town to an eight-wicket win.Donovan Ferreira (82* from 40 balls) helped the Super Kings post a formidable 190-6 having been 27-4 which was 16-runs too many for the Durban Super Giants who finished on 174-5 with Quinton de Kock scoring 78.

The Pretoria Capitals were widely tipped as pre-tournament favourites and the nature of their two opening victories has done nothing to dispel that notion.

English opener Phil Salt’s unbeaten 77 and a quickfire 37 from Kiwi allrounder Jimmy Neesham along with a devastating 29* from just nine balls (2x4, 3x6) by skipper Wayne Parnell saw them reach 193-6 against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Gbeberha. The home side finished on 170-5 to lose by 23-runs with a fiery Anrich Nortje claiming 2-18 from his four overs.

The Royals earned a bonus point win on home soil by dismissing the Super Kings for a paltry 81 and reaching their target in just 10.3 overs. Spinner Bjorn Fortuin (3-16) and seamer Evan Jones (3-21) did most to win the game.

A disciplined all round bowling performance from the Super Giants restricted MI Cape Town to a modest 152-8 at Newlands on Friday evening and reached their in just 16.3 overs for an impressive 5-wicket victory but the most impressive victory of the tournament so far was delivered by the Capitals on Saturday morning who beat the Sunrisers by 37 runs at SuperSport Park.

English opener Will Jacks blasted 92 from only 46 balls (7x4, 8x6) to lat the platform for a daunting 216-6 and, despite 46 from captain Aiden Markram and a late, defiant 36* from Marco Jansen the visitors finished on 179-7 to lose by 37-runs.

The Super Kings’ batting woes continued at Newlands on Saturday evening when they were restricted to a dismal 105-9 with the MI Cape Town spinners George Linde (2-25), Waqar Salamkheil (1-19) and captain Rashid Khan (2-18) taking 5-62 in 12 overs on a pitch being used for the third time. Brevis (42) helped chase down the runs in 16.2 overs for a seven-wicket win.

DSG flexed their muscles against the Royals at Kingsmead on Sunday posting a total of 216-4 with Wiaan Mulder (42), captain de Kock (57) and Heinrich Klaasen (50 off 19 balls, 1x4, 6x6) all in the runs. The Royals appeared to be out of the contest at 63-4 until former England captain Eoin Morgan (64) and Dane Vilas (44) helped them reach a creditable 189-8 and a 27-run loss.

The Sunrisers opened their points account with a hard-fought four-wicket victory against MI Cape Town at St.
George’s Park on Monday. Seamers Ottniel Baartman (3-45) and Sisanda Magala (2-22) were aided by Markram’s occasional off-spin (2-0-8-2) in restricting the visitors to 158-8 before Markram (50), Sarel Erwee (41) and Tristan Stubbs (30) wrapped up a four-wicket victory with three balls to spare.