Win Projections to be updated soon
In a virtual media interaction, SA20 Ambassador Allan Donald discussed the tournament’s expansion, its influence on up-and-coming South African talent, and the eagerly awaited final matchup as SA20 2025 draws closer to its grand finale on Saturday, February 8, 2025, which pits MI Cape Town against Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
It’s difficult to think a month has gone by, Donald remarked, reflecting on SA20’s performance this season and its goal to overtake the IPL as the biggest league. The organisation of this league has been excellent. You practically feel as though you’re in a T20 World Cup. The entire event seems enormous, and Graeme and his group have performed admirably. He is entirely correct when he claims that SA20 has identified the ideal T20 model.
“This league is full of possibilities for the future. It has been a fantastic month, both in terms of the organisation and the calibre of cricket played. Our young cricket players have benefited greatly from the presence of the international players.
It’s simply incredible to watch someone like Matthew Breetzke and Kane Williamson collaborate. This is a huge deal, and as a South African, I can say with pride that it will only get bigger over the next ten to twenty years. What I have witnessed is just astounding for a competition in the third season.”
In his remarks, Donald highlighted how SA20 is influencing South African cricket’s future, saying: “That’s precisely why we bring in foreign players—to work with our young fast bowlers and batters. It’s amazing to watch Richard Gleeson play so well for the Eastern Cape and to watch Ottniel Baartman bowl with him. Skilled pros are teaching players like Marco Jansen how to bowl in the end.
SA20 has a challenging learning curve; due to the high calibre of experience in the dressing room, a novice player can learn as much as six months of regular cricket in just one month. In the IPL, I witnessed the same thing with RCB. It’s a fantastic forum for young cricket players looking to improve. They are continuously making difficult judgements, which speeds up the learning process.
In the SA20 this season, Donald singled out a few noteworthy players: “Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann have really impressed me. Two young talents have emerged. It’s amazing to witness what Rubin has done for the Paarl Royals on this stage; I’ve watched him play a lot of local cricket. At first, his brother Jordan Hermann didn’t play much, but he thrived when given the chance. Kwena Maphaka has also been exceptional.
“I believe that Bjorn Fortuin is one player who has been an underappreciated hero. He has been an excellent left-arm spinner for the Paarl Royals, bowling hard overs even during the powerplay. Now that Eathan Bosch has made his announcement on the Test stage, I’m really happy for him. I have no doubt that his father, Tertius Bosch, who was a fast bowler, would be very proud of his son’s accomplishments. Eathan has established himself as a reliable player in both SA20 and Test cricket. He is a wonderful hope for the future of South Africa.
Looking ahead to the final match, Donald stated: “MI Cape Town would be the favourites to win the cup based only on form.
The Eastern Cape boys, however, have peaked at the ideal moment. They now appear as a cohesive unit with total self-confidence.
There are all the makings of a fantastic match in this final. There’s a chance that a team may chase 220 or 230; it will be close. The way MI Cape Town have played, the clinical manner in which they have gone about their cricket, you have to say they deserve to be in the final and are the favorites to win. But Sunrisers Eastern Cape have shown immense character.”
When asked about the challenges Sunrisers Eastern Cape might face in the final, Donald responded: “I don’t think they fear it at all. They’ve played in two finals before and have dealt with challenges along the way. Their coach, Adrian Birrell, is a great mental strategist.
He knows how to fine-tune players’ mindsets and keep them calm. This team had a rough start with three consecutive losses, but they bounced back, won five straight matches, had a slight dip, and then delivered two dominant performances.
“I don’t think they fear being in the final. The only factor that could influence the game is the pitch, but both teams will have to play on the same surface. The Wanderers pitch tomorrow should offer good pace and bounce. The team that needs to be more careful is MI Cape Town. They’ve had two difficult seasons, and the pressure is all on them.
As much as they are favorites, they will have to play at their absolute best to win. Meanwhile, the boys in orange (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) will come out swinging. They have found their spark, and their last two performances have been clinical under pressure. They are a well-oiled machine, and stopping them won’t be easy. MI Cape Town will have to be at their absolute best to lift the trophy.”
India
