SA20 2023: week 1 review

The SA20, South Africa's new franchise T20 tournament, is well underway with teams beginning to become established. The first week of the competition has featured nine matches in a range of venues, from Cape Town to Durban. 

Match by match mini reviews

Match 1 - MI Cape Town vs Paarl Royals

The opening match of the SA20 2023 saw two strong-looking sides up against one another as Jos Buttler and David Miller faced off against Jofra Archer and Rashid Khan. 

The Royals struggled to come good when batting first, with Buttler settling in slowly, before Miller briefly added some impetus. Archer impressed on his first competitive T20 game in 18 months.

The Royals' total always looked below-par and so it proved, with teen sensation Dewald Brevis making light work of the chase. The 19-year-old opener struck multiple sixes en route to an unbeaten 70 to justify his considerable hype and ease MI Cape Town to a bonus point.

Match 2 - Johannesburg Super Kings vs Durban's Super Kings

A poor start from JSK saw them 58-4 at the halfway point. However, another uncapped South African with big hype in Donovan Ferreira helped the Super Kings to an imposing total and in turn a quite incredible comeback. He was ably supported by the big-hitting Romario Shepherd. Ferreira scored a number of fortuitous boundaries to start but soon started connecting with comparable ease. An off-balance six and a reverse sweep that sailed over the boundary were two highlights. Super Giants' bowling depth saw Wiaan Mulder not needed and Jason Holder only brought on in the 18th over, though they evidently lacked death bowling quality.

In response, Quinton de Kock and Kyle Mayers put on 98 for the first wicket, but the chase lost momentum after de Kock was dismissed. The Super Kings' got their plans spot on with the ball, as part-timer Reeza Hendricks bowled four overs for just 14, with his off-spin a good matchup against the left-handers de Kock and Mayers.

Match 3 - Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape

The Capitals made a quick start, unsurprising given their top three of Phil Salt, Will Jacks and Rilee Rossouw, but lost quick wickets and were seemingly in trouble at halfway. Salt, though, batted through for an impressive unbeaten knock, supported well by Jimmy Neesham and Wayne Parnell boosted the total with a late cameo.

The Sunrisers were barely in the chase as they incredibly faced two wicket-maidens inside the powerplay. Anrich Nortje bowled with extreme pace coupled with accuracy and while Tom Abell put together a solid innings, the Capitals were able to defend with relative ease.

Match 4 - Paarl Royals vs Johannesburg Super Kings

Once again, the Super Kings found themselves four down in the powerplay. This time, however, they could not bank on their big hitters to get them out of trouble and feebly subsided to just 81, Lungi Ngidi the pick of the bowlers. While the Royals lost a couple of wickets, they were never fazed, with Buttler sealing the simple win with a big strike down the ground.

Match 5 - MI Cape Town vs Durban's Super Giants

MI Cape Town got off to a terrible start, with big names Brevis, Sam Curran and Rassie van der Dussen all falling for a single run between them. Brevis was bowled by a superb inswinging yorker from Mayers. Grant Roelofsen managed to help Cape Town to a respectable total, with a belated contribution from George Linde and a good cameo from Delano Potgieter.

With a lowish total to attack, Cape Town set about seeking the bonus point with Mayers getting the chase off to a strong start. Heinrich Klaasen then helped with the acceleration with help from Mulder. Khan and Archer were unable to make inroads, despite Archer having de Kock caught behind early; Khan opted against a review. 

Super Giants then lost a few quick wickets courtesy of Olly Stone to raise the tension, before Keemo Paul got the job done with a couple of lusty blows. The Stone spell, though, prevented Durban from picking up the bonus point.

Match 6 - Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Batting first, the Capitals lost Salt early but his England teammate Jacks ensured that that would not prove to be a big loss. The 24-year-old smoked an incredible 92, ably supported by Theunis de Bruyn to end up just short of 220.

Sunrisers were well behind the rate through the first ten overs, though captain Aidan Markram did play a solid innings. The Capitals seemed on course for a bonus point but were denied thanks to some big late hitting from the lower order pair of Marco Jansen and Brydon Carse.

Match 7 - MI Cape Town vs Johannesburg Super Kings

Yet again, the Super Kings began poorly and were three down after the powerplay. with things not improving. JSK managed to limp to just over 100, with only three players making double figures. Linde started off well with his left-arm off-spin, before the Afghan duo of Waqar Salamkheil and Khan combined to cause Super Kings all sorts of problems. The visitors were not helped by the SA20 debut of Cape Town's Kagiso Rabada. the star South African international who was arguably the pick of the bowlers.

In response, Brevis again helped to set the tone of the chase but Cape Town would be disappointed to not have chased down the modest total inside the 16 overs needed for the bonus point. Van der Dussen began too slowly, with Curran's late efforts coming too late, though the victory was still easily secured.

Match 8 - Durban's Super Giants vs Paarl Royals

In one of the best games so far, Super Giants opted for a change in their batting order. Mayers continued to open but was joined by Mulder instead of de Kock. The West Indian Mayers got DSG off to a flying start in the powerplay before once again falling in the 30s. De Kock then came to the crease and set about his business efficiently, bringing up his second SA20 fifty in quick time. Mulder's solid supporting role saw him collect 42, before the fireworks ended the innings in style.

Those fireworks were provided by Klaasen, who smoked the tournament's fastest fifty so far in just 19 balls. His six-filled innings got the home side to an imposing 216. Ngidi was once again the pick of the bowlers, along with Evan Jones.

The Royals' reply got off to a poor start with Buttler getting castled by his England teammate Reece Topley for just two off seven balls. Miller followed not too long after to leave Paarl reeling. Jason Roy looked like he was finding some touch but his wicket led to the Royals being way behind the rate at the halfway stage and four wickets down. 

Eoin Morgan rolled back the years with some clean striking and produced a 27 ball fifty to give Paarl an unlikely sniff. The momentum did swing enough for the Royals to have a real chance, but any hope was soon gone with Morgan's wicket, followed shortly by that of Dane Vilas for 44. They did, however, deny DSG of what was a promising chance of a bonus point. 

Match 9 - Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs MI Cape Town

MI Cape Town got off to a sluggish start in the powerplay, somewhat epitomised by the uncharacteristic innings of Brevis. The 19-year-old could only muster 15 off 28 balls as he struggled to find his timing. Someone who did not have such struggles was George Linde. The all-rounder smashed a 24-ball fifty to lift his side towards a competitive 158-8.

Sunrisers' response did not get off to a good start, with debutant Adam Rossington holing out first ball. A big third wicket partnership between Sarel Erwee and skipper Markram eased the home side into the chase. Markram in particular produced an incredibly classy fifty before he was out caught in the deep immediately after reaching the milestone. In the same Odean Smith over, in which the West Indies man claimed 2-3, Jordan Cox continued his disappointing run and was out LBW for just one to turn the tide. However, big-money signings Tristan Stubbs and Jansen saw the Sunrisers over the line for their first win, with James Fuller hitting the winning runs.