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City of Cape Town and Newlands to host Betway SA20 Final
City of Cape Town announced as Host City for the Betway SA20 Final on 10 February 2024 – the partnership will promote the City to a global audience in key tourism markets.
20 November 2023: The picturesque Newlands will be the stage where the Betway SA20 Season 2 champions are crowned in the Final on 10 February. The stadium will also play host to the first Qualifier on 6 February. The Wanderers will host the two back-to-back knockout matches - the Eliminator on 7 February and Qualifier 2 on 8 February.
In addition, the City of Cape Town has been announced as the official ‘Host City – Final’ partner, a ground-breaking partnership which will promote Cape Town to the League’s global network and audience.
Cape Town has long been a sought after tourist destination of choice across the world. From its heritage sites and iconic tourism landmarks; to its diverse arts and culture; as well as pristine natural resources and varied outdoor activities – the City has it all.
“With only 50 days to go until the first ball is bowled, today marks another significant day as we announce the City of Cape Town as our Host City for the Final and confirm our venues for the playoffs and Final ,” Betway SA20 League Commissioner, Graeme Smith said. “Summer and cricket have always been synonymous with one another and with the January/February window locked in annually, the SA20 will be the place to be. Cape Town is not only a global tourist destination for summer holidays but is a proven event destination successfully hosting the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup Final, the Volvo Ocean Race, the URC Final, the Cape Epic and many more. This is a city with a unique vibe, iconic locations and incredible entertainment options. We look forward to it hosting a world class Final come 10 February 2024.”
The Wanderers has played host to some of the most memorable clashes in the history of South African cricket, including the famous 438 game, the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup Final and the 2023 Betway SA20 Final.
Nestled beneath the towering mountain, the famous Oaks embankment, boisterous Railway Stand, distinct smell from the nearby brewery and breathtaking sunsets combined with legendary white-ball cricket contests… Newlands turns every match into a classic.
“As the City of Cape Town, we’re excited to partner with Betway SA20 and showcase our beautiful city during their Season 2 playoffs and Final. We were proud when the joint-most successful IPL team, Mumbai Indians, chose Cape Town to be home for their SA20 franchise and hope that securing Newlands as the venue for the Final will be a good omen for MI Cape Town in Season 2,” Deputy Mayor, Eddie Andrews said.
“We saw the buzz around the city, from cricket enthusiasts to casual sports fans alike during Season 1. Furthermore, the economic and environmental impact of the League aligns with our goals of making lives better for our citizens. We can’t wait to work with SA20 to showcase incredible cricket and our incredible city throughout the tournament, culminating in the playoffs and final at Newlands.”
The playoffs are a new addition to the anticipated Season 2, with the top two teams contesting Qualifier 1, number three and four playing in the Eliminator and the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator playing in Qualifier 2. This will set up a championship clash between the winner of Qualifier 1 and the winner of Qualifier 2 in the Final on 10 February.
With only 50 days to go until the opening match, the countdown is ticking as the world’s top cricketers gear up for a month of entertainment, world-class cricket and unforgettable memories.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape will begin their title defence with a mouth-watering clash against Joburg Super Kings in Gqeberha on 10 January, with the cricket fever spreading across all of South Africa’s top stadiums throughout the month.
Tickets for the playoffs and Final will go on sale on 8 January on www.SA20.co.za. Stay tuned to Betway SA20 and the City of Cape Town’s social media channels to not miss out on your chance to be part of the incredible vibe at the matches. Tickets for the round-robin matches are currently available on www.SA20.co.za.
SuperSport pulls out all the stops for Betway SA20 Season 218 December 2023: With the Betway SA20 due to start at the backend of the festive period, SuperSport is going bigger and better for season 2, which gets underway at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on 10 January 2024.
Broadcaster to bring in more innovation and unprecedented viewing experiences
Following a highly successful inaugural season, SuperSport and its partners are introducing numerous innovations in the second edition of the competition, aimed at providing television audiences and fans with unprecedented viewing experiences.
These innovative, exciting new elements include the Com Cam, giving viewers at home a fixed view of the commentary box, with big-name former international cricketers providing expert commentary and analysis.
Merging the match-day and on-screen experiences are features such as the Dug Out, which is a boundary-level camera that connects directly with the players and coaches close to the boundary ropes and the iconic Couch, where commentators, fans and celebrities engage while enjoying the cricket.
SuperSport aims to transcend the matchday experience into the home to make the millions of viewers as much a part of the action as the thousands cheering for their franchises in the stands.
Match Official technology will provide viewers with the experience of hearing direct communication between Umpires during the live broadcast of matches – another first of its kind for Betway SA20. Fans will not only hear the third umpire but communication between the on-field umpires, too.
SuperSport CEO, Rendani Ramovha, expressed his delight that the stadium spectators and the viewers will be able to share experiences like never before.
“Building on the success of Season 1, SuperSport is stepping up our game to bring viewers the experience to match the Betway SA20 action. From technological innovation to unique fan experiences, SuperSport is invested in ensuring that, whether you’re watching on DStv Stream or Premium, the experience is as enthralling as being at the venue,” said Ramovha.
“The fans in the stadiums will also be closer to the television production beamed around the globe. With the addition of Quidich technology and other spectacular innovations, SuperSport will provide live on-field player tracking, a gamified player-naming look and feel as well as the revolutionary BuggyQam, which is a roving camera on wheels that puts the viewers right in the middle of the cricketing action.
“It really is poised to be a summer filled with cricket experiences to savour.”
The flagship of South African wildlife, the Big 5, will also form part of the experience that makes the League a unique global product. Animations of the iconic Big 5 will provide fun illustrations of dismissals, fours and sixes, adding to the viewer experience.
Betway SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith said: “Betway SA20 and SuperSport have put in a lot of effort behind the scenes to bring an elevated and engaging viewing experience for Season 2.
“Innovation is at the heart of what we do, and together with SuperSport, we want to raise the bar in the way we watch cricket but also create a platform for fans to engage, connect, and experience the game in a whole new way. So, whether you're watching from the comfort of your home or cheering in the stadium, we want to make it an incredible experience.”
SuperSport will have match commentary in three official South African languages: English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
Ravi Shastri, Stuart Broad and AB de Villiers headline stellar cast of Betway SA20 on-air talentCommentators:
First two para help identify where they're playing their first two matchesDutch national team will play some games as part of their WC prep against SA20 teams in SA:
The Netherlands will start their preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup early in the New Year, naming a strong 16-man squad travelling to South Africa for a seven-match programme against some of the country’s top T20 sides.
The tour will also help several of the SA20 franchise teams with their preparation for this season’s competition, which begins on 10 January with a game between the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and the Joburg Super Kings at St George’s Park, Gqeberha (previously named Port Elizabeth).
The Dutch will be playing two matches against the Sunrisers there on 4 and 6 January, before moving on to the Western Cape, where they will play two games against the Paarl Royals and one against MI Cape Town, a Mumbai Indians’ colonial outpost, at Newlands on 8 January.
emergingcricket.com