TOP SIX: GROUP STAGE LEADING BATTERS

The Betway SA20 Season 2 round-robin stage served up more runs than ever before. 

Batters smashed records all around the country and struck sixes with regularity to give fans every opportunity to claim a share of the Betway Catch R2 million competition. 

We have collated the six leading performers after the round-robin stage was completed in Gqeberha on Sunday. 

RYAN RICKELTON (MI CAPE TOWN)

Runs: 530 | HS: 98 | Ave: 58.88 | SR: 173.77 | 50s: 5 | Fours: 41 | Sixes: 34

The first batter in the history of Betway SA20 to pass 500 runs in a season. The MI Cape Town opener was prolific throughout and it's almost impossible to understand how his team failed to qualify for the playoffs on the back of his runs. Peculiarly, Rickelton did not manage a century in the competition and instead had three scores in the 90s and an 87.

JOS BUTTLER (PAARL ROYALS)

Runs: 398 | HS: 70* | Ave: 44.22 | SR: 144.20 | 50s: 3 | Fours: 43 | Sixes: 13

Last season’s leading run-scorer has once again put his best foot forward with almost 400 runs in Season 2. Buttler’s hallmark is his consistency, with the ability to pierce the field in the Power Play almost unmatchable in world cricket. The English white-ball captain is playing with a smile on his face again after a couple of tough months with the national team.

MATTHEW BREETZKE (DURBAN'S SUPER GIANTS)

Runs: 383 | HS: 78 | Ave: 38.30 | SR: 144.52 | 50s: 2 | Fours: 37 | Sixes: 22

When you are being compared to the legendary Herschelle Gibbs by your captain Keshav Maharaj, then there must be something special about you. Breetzke has finally started to fulfil his immense potential and is certainly enjoying the freedom to express himself at the top of the DSG batting unit. The signature pose after an exquisite lofted cover drive has been one of the pertinent images of Betway SA20 Season 2.

HEINRICH KLAASEN (DURBAN'S SUPER GIANTS)

Runs: 350 | HS: 85 | Ave: 43.75 | SR: 207.10 | 50s: 3 | Fours: 22 | Sixes: 28

The leading run-scorers in T20 competitions are usually top-order batters and that's what makes Klaasen so special. He bats in the middle-order, and even more towards the backend of the innings, but yet is consistently among the top run-getters. That's due to his explosive power that arguably nobody else possesses in the competition. Klaasen is box-office and X-factor rolled into one enormous package that earned him the quickest half-century off only 17 balls. Klaasen’s strike-rate is phenomenal and virtually changes every match in DSG’s favour with his clean ball striking.

RASSIE VAN DER DUSSEN (MI CAPE TOWN)

Runs: 328 | HS: 104 | Ave: 32.80 | SR: 147.74 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 1 | Fours: 23 | Sixes: 16

The first centurion of Betway SA20 Season 2, Van der Dussen and Rickelton formed a formidable opening pair for MI Cape Town at the start of the competition, which included a record 200-run stand against JSK at the Wanderers. Unfortunately for Van der Dussen, and MI Cape Town, the runs dried up during the middle before the Proteas stalwart struck another rapid half-century in the final league game at Newlands.

LEUS DU PLOOY (JOBURG SUPER KINGS)

Runs: 299 | HS: 71 | Ave: 37.37 | SR: 159.89 | 50s: 2 | Fours: 28 | Sixes: 15

The Super Kings batting line-up stuttered along through the computer with Du Plooy often playing a lone hand in many a losing cause. But that was until the rain-affected duel with MI Cape Town at Newlands. With the game reduced to eight overs and JSK set a DLS-revised target of 98, Du Plooy could break free from the shackles to strike a 14-ball 41 not out. It ignited JSK’s push for the playoffs that ultimately closed off with Du Plooy contributing another half-century in the Wanderers thriller.