PLAYOFFS RACE INTENSIFIES IN THIS WEEKEND'S BETWAY SA20 CLASHES

Betway SA20 is gearing up for a super weekend of high-octane action with all six teams battling away for playoffs positions.

Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings kickstart the proceedings in the first of their two contests this weekend at St George’s Park on Friday.

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Gqeberha is abuzz with excitement after Sunrisers collected two consecutive home victories - and their third overall - already this week.

The build-up to the clash is reaching fever pitch with the Orange Army set to come out in their numbers in what is expected to be another memorable Betway SA20 Friday night in the Friendly City.

JSK, meanwhile, will be eager to build up some momentum before they return home for a string of four matches, starting against the Sunrisers at the Wanderers on Sunday.

Both Aiden Markram and Faf du Plessis's captaincy and batting prowess will be tested when their teams, Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings, meet back-to-back this weekend.

In between, the SA20 travelling caravan makes a double stop on a searing Saturday in the Western Cape.

With the mercury levels set to reach 37 degrees at Boland Park for a midday start, the table-topping Paarl Royals will look to increase the heat even further on Pretoria Capitals.

Royals have been in supreme form at home and will be eager to become the first team to secure a playoff spot for Season 3 at “Fortress Boland Park”.

“I think it's super key to get that playoff place as soon as possible. I think the first two seasons we sort of let it slip towards the back end of the comp and ended up playing the Eliminator game.

“This year we would love to finish first, or at least in the top two, and get into Qualifier 1 and hopefully get into the final straight away.

“Yeah, love playing at home. We love playing at Boland Park. I think it suits our squad beautifully,” said Royals batter Mitchell van Buuren.

WATCH: Mitchell van Buuren reflects on Royals position at the top of the table

“We've got a lot of unbelievable spinners. We've sort of found a great formula on how to play at home. We've got back-to-back home games now and we're buzzing for those. Fortress, Borland Park, we like to call it!”

The Capitals, meanwhile, have been beset by injuries, particularly to their fast bowlers with former captain Wayne Parnell the latest to be ruled out joining Anrich Nortje and Daryn Dupavillon on the sidelines.

Jonathan Trott’s team will hope though to find a way to rediscover the form that saw the Capitals finish runners-up in Season 1.

It's been a week of change in the Pretoria Capitals squad as Gideon Peters, Matthew Boast, Ashton Turner and Jason Behrendorff have arrived to replaced injured and departing players.

Finally, all roads leads lead to Newlands on Saturday evening for the hottest ticket in the Mother City when MI Cape Town host Durban’s Super Giants.

Robin Peterson’s side have delivered a string of impressive performances at home this season and will be eager to entertain the Newlands faithful again.

DSG, however, find themselves in the must-win position of having to claim all the points on offer from their final three matches, starting with the clash against MICT, if they are to squeeze into the playoffs.

“It has been disappointing, but for us it's pretty simple now. We've got to win three from three to stand a chance. So let's hope  we can do it and turn it around,” said DSG allrounder Jon-Jon Smuts.

“Look, to be honest, we've all been up for it. I think we've got a really strong side. I think if you look at it, we're obviously very disappointed in ourselves and the performances we put in.

“And guys have a lot of self-pride. So I know the guys are really desperate to  do well. Let’s hope in the next few games we can somehow show what we're capable of.”

HOW TO WATCH

Viewers around the world will be able to watch all the weekend action on the following broadcasters (click map for more information):

For live updates and stats from the match, you can visit the Match Centre.

DID YOU KNOW?

The teams who finish first and second after the group stage of Season 3 will play in Qualifier 1 (4 February, St George's Park) with the winner automatically advancing to the Final. The third and fourth teams on the standings will play in the Eliminator (5 February, Centurion) while the next day at the same venue, Qualifier 2 will see the loser of Qualifier 1 face the winner of the Eliminator for a place in the Final, which will take place at Wanderers on Saturday, 8 February 2025.

FULL BETWAY SA20 WEEKEND 3 FIXTURES

Friday

Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Joburg Super Kings, St George's Park, 17:30 (SAST)

Saturday

Paarl Royals vs Pretoria Capitals, Boland Park, 13:00 (SAST)

MI Cape Town vs Durban's Super Giants, Newlands, 17:30 (SAST)

Sunday

Joburg Super Kings vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Wanderers, 15:30 (SAST)