By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Betway SA20 Season group matches served up some exhilarating cricket, but the competition is now approaching its peak with the Playoffs set to get underway.
Here is everything you need to know about the Betway SA20 Season 4 Playoffs.
Route to the Playoffs
Two-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape were the first to lock in a Playoff spot, surging to the top of the Betway SA20 Season 4 standings when they eliminated defending champions MI Cape Town at St George’s Park on Sunday.
West Indies big-hitter Sherfane Rutherford has kept Pretoria Capitals‘ season together with some swashbuckling innings, but kept his best for the Wanderers last Saturday to propel the Capitals to a top-two finish and a place in Qualifier 1 alongside Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Paarl Royals were the second team to qualify for the Playoffs, but consecutive defeats in their final two group matches saw them slip down to third and will now be involved in the Eliminator at Centurion on Thursday.
The fourth and final berth came down to Monday night’s final group match with Joburg Super Kings involved in a virtual quarterfinal with Paarl Royals.
Defeat for Joburg Super Kings would see Durban’s Super Giants advance. But the injury-hit JSK side stood up from being floored by Capitals in their last game to claim a bonus-point victory over Royals to see them advance to a fourth consecutive Playoff spot.
Betway SA20 final group standings
Playoffs structure
Sunrisers Eastern Cape topped the standings and will face second-placed Pretoria Capitals in Qualifier 1 at Kingsmead on Wednesday (17:30 SAST start).
The winner will progress directly through to the coveted Betway SA20 Season 4 Final on Sunday, January 25 at Newlands (16:30 SAST start)
The loser gets another opportunity in Qualifier 2 on Friday, January 23 at the Wanderers against the winner of Thursday’s Eliminator between Paarl Royals (third) and Joburg Super Kings (fourth) at Centurion (17:30 SAST start).
The Qualifier 2 winner will advance to the Final where they will face the winner of Qualifier 1 at the Wanderers on Sunday.
Playoffs schedule
Qualifier 1: Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Pretoria Capitals, Kingsmead (Wednesday, January 21, 17.30 SAST)
Eliminator: Paarl Royals v Joburg Super Kings, Centurion (Thursday, January 22, 17.30 SAST)
Qualifier 2: Loser of Qualifier 1 v winner of Eliminator, Wanderers (Friday, January 23, 17.30 SAST)
Final: Winner of Qualifier 1 v winner of Qualifier 2, Newlands (Sunday, January 25, 16:30 SAST)
*A reserve day on Monday, January 26 is available for the Final.