Betway SA20 has been raised to the next level for Season 3 after a successful third auction in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The league received over 580 applications for the remaining 13 slots that were on offer at the auction, along with six Rookie draft picks.
Bidding war
Cricket SA T20 Cricketer of the Year, Reeza Hendricks, was the most sought-after pick with the stylish right-hander heading to MI Cape Town for R4.3 million.
Hendricks, who had previously played for Joburg Super Kings, was the central focus of a bidding war between MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals, with the Newlands-based team eventually winning the race.
MI Cape Town also signed up a further top-order batter in former Protea, Colin Ingram (R175 000), and brought born-and-bred Capetonian Dane Piedt (R175 000) back to Newlands.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape bolstered their bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of Betway SA20 championship titles with the addition of paceman Okuhle Cele for R175 000 and English seamer Richard Gleeson for R2.3 million. Gleeson played for Durban’s Super Giants last season, but will now call St George’s Park home.
The Pretoria Capitals under new coach Jonathan Trott went in search of top-order batters and brought both West Indies opener Evin Lewis (R1.5 million) and Marques Ackerman (R800 00) along with all-rounder, Kyle Simmons (R175 000), to Centurion.
Durban’s Super Giants recently added Proteas fast bowling legend Allan Donald to their coaching staff, and his influence was immediately evident with last season’s runners-up signing up West Indies fast bowling sensation Shamar Joseph (R425 000).
Joburg Super Giants, meanwhile, recruited Wihan Lubbe and Evan Jones for their base prices of R175 000, while wicket-keeper batter Rubin Hermann (R175 000) was Paarl Royals’ sole pick on the night.
‘Six competitive squads’
“I think all six teams look very strong,” said Betway SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith.
“From a League perspective we want to see all six squads competitive. It’s a nice mix of some quality South Africans and superb international names that have joined us for Season 3.
“As a cricket competition we want to see the South African players get stronger every year. We have seen the success of the IPL and the number of players that can be picked for India. I think we saw that progression last year with the likes of Ottneil Baartman. He had a great World Cup, and we are starting to see those type of players come through.
“I don’t think South African cricket has seen an event where there is so much quality cricket in a month period. If you think about the contests that are going to unfold in these six teams, it’s something that’s going to be unmatched,” Smith added.
The Rookie segment was back again and once again attracted plenty of attention with Tristan Luus (MI Cape Town) and Dewan Marais (Paarl Royals), who both played in the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup earlier this year, being drafted at the auction.
“The Rookie element has been a lovely value add, in terms of the pathway and opportunities. We saw a lot of Rookies retained in initial squads this year,” Smith said.
“If you look at the squads in general, there are a number of young players on board. We have seen some of those start the domestic competitions well.
“They will now get the opportunity to play against and learn from the best players in the world.”
The third season of the competition starts in only 100 days when defending champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, take on MI Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on 9 January 2025.
Full list of Betway SA20 auction buys
MI Cape Town: Reeza Hendricks (R4.3m), Colin Ingram (R175 000); Dane Piedt (R175 000) Tristan Luus (Rookie)
Pretoria Capitals: Evin Lewis (R1.5m), Marques Ackerman (R800 000), Kyle Simmons (R175 000), Keegan-Lion Cache (Rookie)
Paarl Royals: Rubin Hermann (R175 000) Dewan Marais (Rookie)
Joburg Super Kings: Wihan Lubbe (R175 000), Evan Jones (R175 000) Doug Bracewell (R175 000), JP King (Rookie)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Okuhle Cele (R175 000), Richard Gleeson (R2.3m), Daniel Smith (Rookie)
Durban’s Super Giants: Shamar Joseph (R425 000), CJ King (Rookie)
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