Sport

SA20 set to fill the Proteas void over holiday season with Boxing Day and New Year action

SA20

Zaahier Adams|Published

MI Cape Town will open their SA20 defence against Durban's Super Giants on Boxing Day at Newlands. Picture: Sportzpics

Image: . Picture: Sportzpics

MI Cape Town are set to begin their SA20 championship title defence against Durban's Super Giants on Boxing Day at Newlands later this year after South Africa's premier domestic franchise T20 competition aims to celebrate the holiday season with a bumper opening match.

It will be followed by the first double-header of Season 4, with Centurion hosting the Jukskei derby between Pretoria Capitals and Joburg Super Kings while Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape clash at Boland Park in Paarl.

Kingsmead, home of Durban’s Super Giants, will be a hive of activity in the week leading up to the New Year with the east coast venue welcoming both MI Cape Town (28 December) and Joburg Super Kings (30 December) within the space of a couple of days.

Fans at the coast will have the opportunity to ring in the New Year in style with another cracking double-header set for Gqeberha and Cape Town on 31 December 2025.

Two-times champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape will welcome the Paarl Royals at an always jovial St George’s Park in the afternoon (1pm), with the excitement building up for MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals at Newlands later in the day (5:30pm). 

The festivities will continue on New Year’s Day when Joburg Super Kings and Durban’s Super Giants look to start 2026 on a high note at the Wanderers.

"Season 4 of Betway SA20 will be unique," League Commissioner, Graeme Smith said. “We've carefully planned the fixtures to make the most of the festive season and school holidays, we want SA20 to be a part of the holiday season festivities in our once-off window for this year.

“With the early part of the fixtures weighted towards our coastal venues, holidaymakers from around the country will have a fantastic entertainment option fit for the entire family. We're also excited to host New Year's Eve and New Year's Day fixtures for the first time; we can’t wait to be a part of the New Year’s celebrations with the fans.” ​

 The “Tweede Nuwe Jaar” will be celebrated in style at Boland Park with a mouthwatering Cape derby between Paarl Royals and neighbours MI Cape Town on 2 January 2026.

Betway SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith. Picture: Alet Pretorius/Sportzpics

Image: Alet Pretorius/Sportzpics

Paarl Royals will be looking to continue their impressive record at home, after winning all five of their home matches last season. Incredibly, MI Cape Town achieved the same feat at Newlands in the same season.

The Betway SA20 carnival moves up north to the Highveld for a “Super Saturday” double bout on 3 January when Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape trade punches at the Wanderers before Pretoria Capitals and Durban’s Super Giants go head-to-head at Centurion.

 The Final of the competition will take place on 25 January, with Qualifier 1 scheduled for 21 January, the Eliminator on 22 January and Qualifier 2 on 23 January.

Venues for the Final and the Playoffs will be confirmed on a later date.