SA20 – A tale of three finals

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 07 Dec 2025

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Simon Lewis 07 Dec 2025

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Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the first final in 2023 and defended their title in 2024.
MI Cape claimed their first title in 2025, beating the Sunrisers in the final.
SA20’s fourth season takes place from 26 December 2025 to 25 January 2026.

Aiden Markram led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back title wins (Getty Images).

The first three SA20 finals

Sunrisers Eastern Cape have featured in all three finals of the SA20, winning the first two and finishing runners-up to MI Cape Town in 2025.

The first three SA20 finals
SA final 2023
SA final 2024
SA final 2025

SA20 final 2023

Pretoria Capitals topped the table after the group stage and faced third-placed Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final.

The potent Capitals top-order collapsed for just 135 with three balls of their 20 overs in hand. Kusal Mendis top-scored with 21 off 19 balls. Roelof van der Merwe knocked over three of the Capitals top seven in taking 4/31.

Sunrisers raced to the win off just 16.2 overs thanks to a fiery 57 off 30 balls from Adam Rossington, with four fours and five sixes.

"I don't think we were given a chance. There was a lot of hanging in there. You can't create it. It is all about individuals and how much they care about the team,” said Sunrisers Eastern Cape skipper Aiden Markram after the final.

“When you have a great group of guys it makes your job easier. The guys were desperate to win. The fans have been credible. That crowd at St George's Park is something else. This one is for them."

SA20 final 2024

Defending their title, Sunrisers toppers the table with seven wins out of their 10 matches, meeting second-placed Durban’s Super Giants in the final.

The Sunrisers batter first and posted an impressive 204/3 off their 20 overs. Jordan Hermann (42 off 26), Tom Abell (55 off 34), Aiden Markram (42 off 26) and Tristan Stubbs (56 off 30) all weighed in with runs.

Paceman Marco Jansen destroyed the Super Giants’ top order, reducing them to 69/6 in the 11th over. Jansen finished with figures of 5/30 and Ottneil Baartman (2/17) took care of two of DSG’s top six as they were bowled out for 115 in 17 overs.

"It's a great feeling, to be in the final was a proud moment, and to rock up here and play that game of cricket was a testament to where we're going as a team. The competition is tough, every game you have to be at your best, but today was a fresh start and luckily we put together a good performance. The bowlers were the shining light and the batters got us over the line. Incredibly proud of this group,” said skipper Markram after lifting the trophy for a second season in a row.

SA20 final 2025

Looking to pull off a three-peat, Sunrisers fought back after a slow start to finish third to make the qualifiers, before slipping through to the final. MI Cape Town had finished bottom of the table in the first two seasons but reversed their fortunes with a brilliant performance in the group stages, winning seven and losing just two of their 10 matches, with one match rained-off.

After a good start through Rassie van der Dussen (23) and Ryan Rickelton (33 off 15), it was Connor Esterhuizen (39 off 26) and Dewald Brevis (38 off 18) who ensured MI Cape Town posted a competitive score of 181/8 off their 20 overs.

Tony de Zorzi (26 off 23) and Tom Abell (30 off 25) got the Sunrisers ship off to a stable start after losing two early wickets. The powerful MI Cape Town attack - led by Kagiso Rabada (4/25) rolled the Sunrisers for 105 off 18.4 overs, with eight of their batters falling for single figure scores. MI Cape Town had secured their maiden SA20 title by an impressive 76 runs.

"The way we played throughout the tournament was brilliant. We had a couple of tough seasons and now winning is special. It's about how everyone responded under pressure," said MI Cape Town skipper Rashid Khan after the final. "Whoever came played their natural game and it was very special to see. Great to have such a bowling line-up - KG, Boulty, Bosch and George. It gives me the advantage."

"I thought we tried hard and we knew we were going to be under the pump," admitted first-time losing skipper Aiden Markram. "Still thought the bowlers responded well and we thought it was chaseble. We would have liked to get ahead in the powerplay but they had world-class bowlers swinging it. MICT have been brilliant this season and they're deserved winners. Big congrats to them from all our boys. We scrapped and fought hard. We will take a lot of positives from this season."