The fourth season of the SA20 is coming to the business end. What does each team need to make the playoffs?
SA20 points table as of January 15, 2025 (before Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals)
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | N/R | Pts | NRR |
| Sunrisers Eastern Cape (Q) | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 24 | +2.398 |
| Pretoria Capitals | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20 | +0.403 |
| Paarl Royals | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 19 | -0.820 |
| Joburg Super Kings | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 17 | -0.120 |
| Durban's Super Giants | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 14 | -0.591 |
| MI Cape Town | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 10 | -1.382 |
1. Sunrisers Eastern Cape
On Wednesday (January 14), SEC became the first team to qualify for the playoffs, with a 61-run win over JSK powered by English youngster James Coles. Having participated in all three finals so far, and won the trophy twice, they remain the outstanding franchise in the league.
SEC's focus will now be to finish in the top two, which looks extremely likely. Their next match is against basement-dwellers MI Cape Town, and they will mathematically secure a top-two finish if they win with a bonus point in that match. They can finish in the top two even if they lose both remaining games, but of course will only want to keep their winning run going.
2. Pretoria Capitals
PC are four points behind SEC, and favourites to qualify for the playoffs. These two are the only teams as of now with a positive net run rate, which could work in their favour in case of a tie on points. In fact, it is already mathematically confirmed that Pretoria cannot finish outside the top four on points alone.
The only way Pretoria would miss the playoffs would be if they lose both their remaining matches, and MI Cape Town win both of their remaining matches with bonus points. That would put both teams on 20 points and four wins, meaning net run rate would come into play. Again, it is highly likely this would still go in Pretoria's favour; their qualification is not yet confirmed, only mathematically.
3. Paarl Royals
Paarl are the only side with three games still to play. A win in their next encounter against Pretoria Capitals would take them to 23 points from eight matches, the same as SEC. That would not be enough to secure qualification, but if they win big enough in this encounter to take home the bonus point, their passage to the playoffs will be mathematically confirmed.
Like the previous two teams, PR are in an extremely strong position. They can finish in fifth place, outside the playoffs, but that would need them to lose all three matches, and MICT to win both of their remaining fixtures with bonus points. Once again, unlikely.
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4. Joburg Super Kings
Currently in the final qualifying spot, JSK have a tough task on their hands with their last two games against Pretoria and Paarl. In the best-case scenario, i.e. winning both games with bonus points, they have a strong chance of finishing in the top two. If they win both matches without collecting any bonus points, top four qualification will be secured. Losing even once means they cannot make the top two, but top four is still on the table.
As of now, they do not depend on any other results to make the top four. One point in JSK's favour is that they play the last match of the league stage, against Paarl. In case they are in a situation where net run rate could come into play, they will know the exact requirements before their game begins.
5. Durban's Super Giants
DSG's playoff hopes are all but over. With only one match left, they can reach a maximum of 19 points; two teams already have more and one has exactly 19. All they can do is win their next game, and hope fate smiles upon them. They cannot qualify without help from other teams.
Whether DSG beat Paarl in their final game with or without a bonus point, they need JSK to lose both remaining matches, to Pretoria and Paarl, to ensure fourth place. Anything else brings net run rate into play, at best.
6. MI Cape Town
No matter what set of results emerges, three teams are guaranteed to finish ahead of MI Cape Town. However, despite sitting at the bottom of the table, they still have a chance of sneaking into the top four.
They can collect eight points by winning both remaining matches, but not winning any bonus points. However, for them to secure qualification would then require DSG to drop points against Paarl (likely), and JSK to lose both of their remaining matches.
The best-case scenario for MICT would be taking 10 points from the last two games (i.e. winning both with bonus points). But even in that case, things are little better. They would still need JSK to lose twice, and for DSG to not earn a bonus point against Paarl (if they win without one, that may be enough).
Image credit: Instagram/sa20_league
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