SA20 2025-26: Newlands lands final as playoffs shift to Durban, Centurion, Joburg
Newlands to stage SA20 2025-26 final; playoffs head to Durban, Centurion and Johannesburg
Cape Town’s Newlands will do double duty in SA20 Season 4, hosting both the opening match on 26 December and the title clash on 25 January. The league has also spread its three playoff games across Durban, Centurion and Johannesburg, giving more fans a taste of knockout cricket.
Key dates and venues
Stage | Date | Venue | Fixture* |
|---|---|---|---|
Season opener | 26 Dec | Newlands, Cape Town | MI Cape Town vs Durban’s Super Giants |
Qualifier 1 | 21 Jan | Kingsmead, Durban | 1st vs 2nd on points table |
Eliminator | 23 Jan | SuperSport Park, Centurion | 3rd vs 4th |
Qualifier 2 | 24 Jan | Wanderers, Johannesburg | Loser Q1 vs Winner Eliminator |
Final | 25 Jan | Newlands, Cape Town | Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2 |
*Fixtures after the opener will be confirmed once the league stage ends.
Why Newlands gets the Finals
Newlands sold out every game last season and delivered record TV numbers. League commissioner Graeme Smith said a Sunday afternoon final at the iconic ground “sets up an incredible atmosphere to crown our champions.”
Durban all set to host first playoff
Kingsmead has never hosted an SA20 knockout. By awarding Qualifier 1 to Durban, organisers hope to reward a city that drew strong crowds despite rain interruptions last summer.
Centurion and Johannesburg: Playoffs
Back-to-back night games at SuperSport Park and the Wanderers reduce travel for teams and broadcasters. Centurion’s fast pitch and Joburg’s high altitude have produced some of the league’s highest scores.
What it means for the teams
Defending champions MI Cape Town will enjoy two home fixtures if they finish in the top two.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape, winners of Seasons 1 and 2, know the Wanderers well after last year’s runners-up finish.
The fresh knockout map could help Durban’s Super Giants, who struggled on slower surfaces in Cape Town but thrive at Kingsmead.
Next stop: the auction
All six franchises will finalise their 19-player squads at the player auction on 9 September. International windows look clearer this year, so big overseas names are expected to enter the pool.
With 34 matches squeezed into a month-long holiday window, SA20 promises a busy South African summer — and fans from four provinces now have a shot at seeing the season decide its champion up close.