Cricket South Africa announces full schedule of SA20 2025; Johannesburg to host the final

The SA20 2025 season promises to be a spectacle for cricket enthusiasts, as South Africa’s premier T20 tournament gears up for its third edition. Kicking off on Thursday (January 9), 2025. the competition will feature the top domestic teams battling for supremacy.

The defending champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, will have the honor of playing the opening match against MI Cape Town at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth. The excitement will culminate in the grand finale at the iconic Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, February 8. To ensure the final goes off without a hitch, organizers have wisely scheduled a reserve day to accommodate any unexpected delays.

Venues and playoff structure

Port Elizabeth will not only host the tournament’s opener but also the crucial Qualifier 1 match. Meanwhile, Centurion has been selected as the venue for both the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 matches. The tournament will follow a similar format to the previous edition, with six teams competing for the prestigious title. The player auction, which will determine the team compositions, is set to take place on October 1, 2024.

Participating teams and tournament format

The six teams that will be competing in the SA20 2025 are as follows:

1. Sunrisers Eastern Cape
2. MI Cape Town
3. Durban’s Super Giants
4. Pretoria Capitals
5. Joburg Super Kings
6. Paarl Royals

Each team will play 10 matches during the league stage. The top four teams will advance to the playoffs. The first and second-placed teams from the group stage will battle it out in ‘Qualifier 1,’ with the winner securing a spot in the final. The third and fourth-placed teams will compete in the ‘Eliminator,’ and the winner of this match will then face the loser of ‘Qualifier 1’ in ‘Qualifier 2.’ The victor of ‘Qualifier 2’ will meet the winner of ‘Qualifier 1’ in the final showdown on February 8, 2025, at the Wanderers Stadium.

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Sunrisers Eastern Cape: The team to beat

The Eastern Cape, who clinched the inaugural SA20 title in 2023 by defeating the Pretoria Capitals by four wickets, will be eager to defend their crown. Their dominant performance in the 2023 final, where they chased down a target of 136 runs in just 16.2 overs with the loss of six wickets, showcased their strength and resilience. As the reigning champions, Eastern Cape will kickstart the 2025 season at home against Cape Town, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive tournament.

SA20 2025: Full Schedule and Match Timings:

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