Photo Credit: SA20 League
The Betway SA20’s gravitas as a major global T20 competition was further enhanced this week with three Australian internationals joining the tournament for the first time.
ICC T20 World Cup winner Matthew Wade, hard-hitting all-rounder Tim David and batter Ben McDermott have all arrived in South Africa to join their respective teams.
Wade, who also won the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Gujarat Titans last year, will significantly strengthen the Joburg Super Kings’ top-order batting. He replaces West Indian paceman Alzarri Joseph, who has left the Wanderers-based team to join the Windies’ Test squad for the two-match Test tour of Zimbabwe.
David, meanwhile, has joined the MI Cape Town squad with English fast bowler Henry Brookes. The duo have replaced the injured Liam Livingstone and fast bowler Olly Stone.
The 1.96m tall David, who was born in Singapore, has a reputation for striking massive sixes in the IPL, Australia’s Big Bash, Caribbean Premier League and England’s The Hundred competition, and will add great excitement to the second half of the Betway SA20.
“We have seen quality cricket lighting up the first half of the Betway SA20,” League Commissioner, Graeme Smith said. It’s great to have more world-class players adding value to the competition. We are going into the thrilling business end with very little separating the teams on the log, we are in for an exciting finish.”
Durban’s Super Giants have also strengthened their squad with the addition of McDermott, alongside England’s ICC T20 World Cup winner David Willey, for their remaining matches.
McDermott, who is the son of former Australian fast bowler Craig, has played five ODI’s and 23 T20I’s for the Baggy Greens. He is a hard-hitting top-order batter and replaces West Indian Kyle Mayers, while Willey comes in for Jason Holder.
The table-topping Pretoria Capitals have also brought in former South African international Colin Ingram to replace Harry Brook. The latter was called up to the England Test squad currently on duty in New Zealand.
Ingram is a worthy replacement having played 31 ODIs and nine T20I’s for the Proteas. Furthermore, he is vastly experienced in the T20 format having played 319 matches in various leagues all around the world.
The second half the League gets underway on Thursday with Durban’s Super Giants hosting MI Cape Town at Kingsmead.
Tickets for the remaining matches and both semi-finals are available online at www.ticketpros.co.za and at the stadium ticket offices.
Name of Author: SA20 League
SA20, officially known as the Betway SA20 for sponsorship reasons, is a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa organized by Cricket South Africa (CSA). First held in the 2023 season, the league features six city-based teams. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the first two editions of the tournament.
