Sunrisers Eastern Cape became the inaugural champions of the new South African franchise t20 tournament, the SA20. Despite finishing third in the league stage, the side led by Aidan Markram triumphed over Pretoria Capitals, the team who finished top of the standings after the ten game round robin. In fact, Sunrisers were one of three teams on 19 points, finishing ahead of the other two courtesy of their superior net run rate.
SA20 2023 Final review: Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Pretoria Capitals, having spent much of the tournament putting on thrilling batting displays, could not get going in the Final. They were restricted extremely well by the Sunrisers bowlers, with main man Roelof van der Merwe taking four wickets.
Adam Rossington ensured a broadly simple chase was to be had for SEC, as he bludgeoned his way to a 20-ball fifty inside the powerplay. There were brief moments of nerves for the newly-crowned champions but realistically after Rossington's explosive start the equation was never going to be an issue. Sure enough, Marco Jansen struck a four and then a big six off Jimmy Neesham to confirm the victory by four wickets.
SA20 2023 team of the tournament
1) Faf du Plessis (Johannesburg Super Kings)
Innings: 11; Runs: 391; Strike rate: 147.6; 50s/100s: 2/1; HS: 113*
The highly-experienced du Plessis was often the glue at the top of a faltering Super Kings top order. He scored the SA20's maiden hundred in what was a special innings, but ultimately the lack of support around him at the top did not help. This was despite the 50+ partnerships that he was involved in, as Reeza Hendricks in particular often struggled to match du Plessis' timing and strike rate.
2) Will Jacks (Pretoria Capitals)
Innings: 7; Runs: 270; Strike rate: 201.5; 50s/100s: 3/0; HS: 92
Despite only playing seven times in the tournament, Jacks announced himself as a truly world-class talent. His supreme array of aggressive strokeplay saw him not only pile on the runs, but do it at a ridiculous strike rate. Before he jetted off to join up with England, he was a big part of the Pretoria Capitals' burgeoning success. He also chipped in with the ball, taking some crucial wickets and provided quality in the field that included an incredible one-handed boundary catch.
3) Leus du Plooy (Johannesburg Super Kings)
Innings: 9; Runs: 249; Strike rate: 137.6; 50s/100s: 2/0; HS: 81*
Despite being South African-born, du Plooy was registered as an overseas player. He soon slotted into the side and played a couple of remarkable innings to rescue his side from some poor starts. His array of shots ranged from the powerful to the silky and he was another solid pillar in the Super Kings' lineup. While Jos Buttler did finish as the season's top scorer, du Plooy's contributions came in often inspired fashion.
4) Aidan Markram (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Innings: 12; Runs: 366; Strike rate: 128; 50s/100s: 1/1; HS: 100
Innings: 10; Wickets: 11; Average: 14.6; Economy: 6.19
The first captain to lift the SA20 trophy, Markram truly lead from the front for the Sunrisers. Not only was he typically productive and classy with the bat, but he also contributed significantly with the ball. His generally part-time off-spin was used to great effect and he picked up an impressive 11 wickets, complete with a brilliant average and economy rate. While he did not score his runs overly quickly, he did score plenty and his hundred was spectacular.
5) Heinrich Klaasen (Durban's Super Giants)
Innings: 9; Runs: 363; Strike rate: 164.3; 50s/100s: 3/1; HS: 104*
It was an important tournament for Klaasen coming in, with a lucrative spot in the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the Indian Premier League up for grabs. He could not have done much more to appeal in that sense, with a number of bludgeoning innings that was capped off with a sensational hundred. He scored quickly, brutally and consistently.
6) Jimmy Neesham (Pretoria Capitals)
Innings: 11; Runs: 176; Strike rate: 132.3; 50s/100s: 0/0; HS: 37
Innings: 12; Wickets: 14; Average: 17.9; Economy: 8.27
The New Zealand international has always been a handy all-rounder to have on the t20 circuit and Neesham proved his worth again for the Pretoria Capitals. He picked up a number of wickets at crucial times to make the breakthrough for the Capitals, while he also was able to contribute at times with the bat.
7) Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Innings: 9; Runs: 177; Strike rate: 150.0; 50s/100s: 1/0; HS: 66
Innings: 11; Wickets: 8; Average: 34.4; Economy: 7.74
The towering bowling all-rounder provided his most telling contribution with the bat in an incredible match against MI Cape Town. The left-hander pulled off a heist of epic proportions as he somehow dragged Sunrisers to an improbable win. He did not take many wickets but he was typically tidy and his quality and height made things tricky for opposing batters.
8) Eathan Bosch (Pretoria Capitals)
Innings: 7; Runs: 90; Strike rate: 125; 50s/100s: 0/0; HS: 23
Innings: 12; Wickets: 15; Average: 21.4; Economy: 8.02
The 24-year-old announced himself as one to watch from South Africa with some top performances with the ball, particularly during the powerplay. He was able to take wickets up-front and put pressure on the batters with his tidy control. Super Kings' Gerald Coetzee was another domestic fast bowler that impressed with his pace and aggression.
9) Roelof van der Merwe (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
Innings: 9; Wickets: 20; Average: 9.6; Economy: 5.61
Another South African-born player registered as an overseas, the Netherlands veteran transformed Sunrisers' season. Having been left out of the opening two matches, van der Merwe came in and instantly brought control to the bowling and an improved mentality to the squad. His numbers with the ball were simply outstanding as he finished as a somewhat unlikely top wicket-taker. The fact that his average was under ten and his economy under six speaks for just how well the 38-year-old played.
10) Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals)
Innings: 10; Wickets: 14; Average: 18.2; Economy: 6.45
The slow left-arm style of Fortuin brought great success to the Royals, particularly inside the powerplay. It is not uncommon, especially nowadays, for a slow bowler to start the innings and Fortuin played his role superbly. He was typically very miserly and did not concede easy runs early on which in turn helped to put pressure on the batting team. His teammate Lungi Ngidi also impressed with the ball.
11) Anrich Nortje (Pretoria Capitals)
Innings: 11; Wickets: 20; Average: 13.3; Economy: 6.18
The joint-top wicket-taker alongside van der Merwe, the way in which Nortje went out about his business was very different but just as effective. His express pace was generally on the money and teams were often unable to get him away, or they sometimes played him out to reduce his danger. He provided a true penetrative nature to the Capitals' attack and provided the same aggression with his bowling that the likes of Jacks, Phil Salt and Kusal Mendis did with the bat.
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