Photo Credit: SA20 League
Betway SA20 has announced the 12-man squad of performing players to make up the Team of the Season. Season 2 saw some phenomenal individual performances, with the competition producing high-quality and competitive cricket across the 34 matches.
Back-to-back champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape and losing Finalists, Durban’s Super Giants, are the most represented teams, with each team boasting five star players in the 12-man squad.
The team was selected with the assistance of cricket’s leading analytics specialists, CricViz, which uses a performance evaluation measure to assess the performance of players across a match and competition.
1. RYAN RICKELTON (MI CAPE TOWN)
Batting points: 172.52 | Fielding points: 5.00 | Total points: 181.52
Ryan Rickelton was the competition’s top run-scorer with 530 runs at an average of 58.88. The MI Cape Town opener struck five half-centuries, which included three scores in the 90s.
2. JOS BUTTLER (PAARL ROYALS – WK)
Batting points: 126.79 | Fielding points: 25.00 | Total points: 158.79
Jos Buttler enjoyed another solid SA20 season with 408 runs at an average of 40.80. The England opener rediscovered his game this past month and it showed in his performances.
3. TOM ABELL (SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE)
Batting points: 116.17 | Fielding points: 9.00 | Total points: 135.17
An unsung hero within the Sunrisers campaign throughout, Tom Abell came to the fore with a Player of the Match performance in the Final at Newlands. His 286 runs at an average of 47.66 was vital to the success of the Sunrisers.
4. HEINRICH KLAASEN (DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS)
Batting points: 190.46 | Fielding points: 23.00 | Total points: 224.46
The undoubted star of Season 2, Heinrich Klaasen deservedly finished as the Betway SA20 Player of the season for his phenomenal batting efforts, which included the fastest fifty of the competition. His 447 runs at an average of 40.63 does not do justice to the impact he had.
5. TRISTAN STUBBS (SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE)
Batting points: 87.32 | Fielding points: 18.00 | Total points: 114.32
Tristan Stubbs delivered on his Season 1 promise with innings of great maturity this past season. He often walked to the crease at difficult times, and found a way to come out on top. Finished as the Sunrisers’ leading run-scorer with 301 runs at 60.20. Also grew into the wicket-keeping role as the competition progressed.
6. WIAAN MULDER
Batting points: 92.82 | Bowling points: 11.40 | Fielding points: 14.00 | Total points: 126.23
After floating around the DSG batting line-up initially, Wiaan Mulder found his sweet spot in the middle-order. He played some crafty innings, often pulling DSG out of a pickle. He managed 297 runs at an average of 37.12.
7. MARCO JANSEN (SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE)
Batting points: 39.60 | Bowling points: 91.37 | Fielding points: 16.00 | Total points: 156.97
The lanky all-rounder grew in stature in Season 2 with both bat and ball. His international experience certainly came to the fore, particularly in the Final when he claimed 5/30. Finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 20 scalps.
8. KESHAV MAHARAJ (DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS)
Batting points: 9.54 | Bowling points: 79.25 | Fielding points: 8.0 | Total points: 112.79
The DSG captain led from the front, with his superb bowling spells putting the opposition under immense pressure. He was the leading spinner in the competition with 15 wickets at an economy rate of just 7.30.
9. NOOR AHMAD (DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS)
Bowling points: 75.52 | Fielding points: 2.0 | Total points: 81.52
The Afghanistan mystery spinner only spent a short time at Betway SA20, but had a major impact for DSG. His unavailability for the Playoffs due to international duty had a significant influence on the Super Giants’ fate. He claimed 12 wickets in just six matches, including a five-for.
10. DAN WORRALL (SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE)
Batting points: 0.01 | Bowling points: 83.16 | Fielding points: 8.0 | Total points: 101.17
Another one of Sunrisers coach Adrian Birrell’s mystery picks, the Australian seam bowler led the attack with aplomb. Worrall was miserly upfront and picked up wickets to set the tone for the Eastern Cape side. He claimed 17 wickets in the competition.
11. OTTNIEL BAARTMAN (SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE)
Batting points: 0.12 | Bowling points: 119.15 | Fielding points: 5.0 | Total points: 133.27
The Oudtshoorn Express put his name up in lights during Season 2 and should now be a frontrunner for a Proteas T20 call-up. Baartman was excellent throughout, particularly during the middle-overs and at the death. He formed part of a formidable Sunrisers pace trio, alongside the aforementioned Jansen and Worrall, and collected 18 wickets in the process
12TH MAN: MATTHEW BREETZKE (DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS)
Batting points: 108.11 | Fielding points: 17.0 | Total points: 135.11
Arguably the most improved player in Season 2, Matthew Breetzke has taken his game to a new level with a string of exceptional performances at the top of the order for DSG. The 25-year-old finished third on the overall run-scorers list with 416 runs.
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.
