The SA20 weekend programme kicks off with a doubleheader on Friday. Saturday also sees a double header which means that the Joburg Super Kings and MI Cape Town will be pulling double duty.
Paarl Royals vs Joburg Super Kings | Friday 13 January 2023 | Boland Park, Paarl | 13:30
To Win Match 21/20
Paarl Royals 82/100 | Tie 25/1 | Joburg Super Kings 21/20
The Jos Buttler show was overshadowed by the brilliance of Dewald Brevis in the Royals’ opening match.
Meanwhile, the Super Kings made a winning start with Donovan Fereira doing his hopes of a future IPL call no harm with a brilliant knock that thrusts him into the spotlight.
At home, the Royals’ batting should be able to take full toll, but the Super Kings have shown they can also ‘GO’.
The Super Kings have been full of surprises with Reeza Hendricks putting in a star turn with the ball, and they could be tournament darkhorses.
Verdict: Joburg Super Kings 21/20
The Super Kings were ultra-impressive in their win against the Durban franchise earlier in the week. Back them to grab another win down in the Western Cape on Friday.
MI Cape Town vs Durban’s Super Giants | Friday 13 January 2023 | Newlands, Cape Town | 17:30
To Win Match
MI Cape Town 57/100 | Tie 25/1 | Durban’s Super Giants 29/20
MI Cape Town look to be the early favourites for the SA20 title and that is all about the performance of Dewald Brevis.
Durban’s Super Giants look to be overly reliant on Quinton de Kock and will need more batters to step up.
DSG’s Dwaine Pretorius recently retired from international cricket to focus on T20s but his start to the SA20 was inauspicious for someone of his experience.
MI Cape Town have perhaps the most balanced squad thanks to quality all-rounders and their bowling is just as good as their batting, as they showed in restricting the powerful Royals.
Verdict: MI Cape Town 57/100
If MI Cape Town fire – and there’s no reason to believe they won’t – then they should canter to victory.
Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape | Saturday 14 January 2023 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | 13:30
To Win Match
Pretoria Capitals 57/100 | Tie 25/1 | Sunrisers Eastern Cape 29/20
The Pretoria Capitals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape will run back their clash on Friday at a new venue.
Having opened their season at St George’s Park both sides will need to adjust to the SuperSport Park wicket.
The Sunrisers will have a lot to prove with many writing them off as contenders already.
Highveld games might prove to be the higher-scoring affairs, if the early pattern continues.
Verdict: Pretoria Capitals 57/100
The Capitals are tipped to make home advantage count against who many consider to be the competition’s weakest side.
MI Cape Town vs Joburg Super Kings | Saturday 14 January 2023 | Newlands, Cape Town | 17:30
To Win Match
MI Cape Town | Tie 25/1 | Joburg Super Kings *betting tba
MI Cape Town and the Super Kings are back in action on Saturday for their sins.
This is a match between early contenders for the trophy and this could be a huge momentum switch.
The winner of this match will likely accept the mantle of being the pace-setters for this first SA20.
Both of these teams have young stars waiting to make their mark and the Newlands showdown should be a great match.
Verdict: MI Cape Town
Difficult to call this before either team has played their first match of the weekend. I’m leaning toward the Cape Town franchise, however, who boast an absolutely stacked side.
