Hits and misses for every SA20 team
The SA20 has already seen packed crowds, final-over thrillers, a former South Africa skipper hit the first century and a veteran all-rounder claim a rare six-for - with every match LIVE on ICC.tv.
The exciting T20 league is now set to enter the pointy end of the season after an eight-day break that allowed South Africa to host England in three ODIs.
With eight SA20 matches still to play from February 2 every team can still dream of earning a spot in the playoffs, but some will need their high-profile internationals to quickly find form.
As the SA20 gets set to return we look at the hits and misses so far for all six teams:
Current record: played 7, won 2, lost 5, bonus points 0
Current position: sixth
The reliable right-hander has been a rock in the middle-order for the struggling Durban’s Super Giants which sit at the bottom of the SA20 standings during the mid-season break.
Klaasen has the fourth-most runs in the SA20 so far with 259 from seven innings, at an average of 51.80 and strike rate of 148, and has often had to salvage the innings.
With South Africa teammate Quinton de Kock not quite at his best yet for Durban’s Super Giants, Klaasen will need to continue on from his solid SA20 and ODI form if their SA20 team are to feature in the playoffs.
The all-rounder announced his retirement from international cricket on the eve of the SA20 starting, but has failed to live up to expectations since then.
Pretorius has scored only 28 runs in six innings, at the lowly average of 5.6 and with a strike rate of 87.5, but has had more success with the ball.
The right-arm pacer has taken six wickets - although at an economy rate of 10.13 - with his 2/34 against Paarl Royals helping Durban’s Super Giants claim one of their two victories so far.
Current record: played 7, won 4, lost 3, bonus points 0
Current position: fourth
The former South Africa skipper turned back the clock to hit the first-ever SA20 century and also has a fifty and three more useful scores from seven innings.
Du Plessis led from the front to chase down a target of 179 with his unbeaten 113* off only 58 balls, in a masterful display that included eight sixes and eight boundaries.
The 38-year-old’s fine form has propelled him to the second-most runs so far in the SA20 with 277, at an average of 46.16 and strike rate of 148.12.
The experienced South Africa white-ball opener has rarely given himself the opportunity to punish opposition bowlers with five scores of six or fewer in seven innings.
The 33-year-old hit an influential 45 runs in each of his other two knocks to set up Joburg Super Kings for two of their four victories so far.
They will expect to chalk up more wins if Hendricks can match those better efforts and improve on his SA20 average of 14.71 and strike rate of 83.06.
Current record: played 7, won 3, lost 4, bonus points 1
Current position: fifth
The Afghanistan star has mostly been solid rather than spectacular but appeared to be hitting his straps in the run-in to the mid-season break.
After starting the SA20 with two wicketless returns the leg-spinner claimed eight wickets in the past five matches, including 3/16 in MI Cape Town’s last match that took him to an incredible 500 T20 wickets.
Rashid will need to boost that tally further if the highly-fancied MI Cape Town are to turn their campaign around and earn a playoff berth.
The star of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has failed to match his rousing exploits from that event, with only three wickets from seven innings for MI Cape Town.
That includes five wicketless returns while the England pacer has also given up a concerning 9.42 runs an over.
MI Cape Town entered the SA20 with an enviable attack that also includes Kagiso Rabada, Jofra Archer and Odean Smith, but sit outside the playoff places ahead of their final few matches.
Sam Curran is named Player of the Final after three-for | Highlights | T20WC 2022
Sam Curran is named the Player of the Final after his 3/12 helped England secure the T20 World Cup title.
Current record: played 8, won 4, lost 4, bonus points 1
Current position: third
The captain of the T20 World Cup champions might have handed the reins to David Miller but has led all-comers with the most runs in the SA20 with 285.
That includes three half-centuries as the consistent Buttler averaged 40.71 at a strike rate of 123.27 while opening alongside England teammate Jason Roy.
Buttler has also taken the gloves for Paarl Royals and looked particularly at home when keeping to South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
The veteran has taken on a familiar spot in the middle-order but has otherwise been unable to make his usual impression on the T20s.
The 36-year-old reminded all that he still poses a threat when blasting 64 from 37 balls, including five sixes, against Durban's Super Giants but is yet to match those efforts.
Morgan has made only 23 runs in his other three SA20 innings, to have an average of 21.75 at a strike rate of 138.09.
Best of Jos Buttler so far at T20WC 2022
Best of Jos Buttler so far at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.
Current record: played 7, won 5, lost 2, bonus points 3
Current position: first
Much was expected of the South Africa speedster and Nortje has delivered with 13 wickets from seven matches.
Nortje has only gone wicketless once in that time while taking the equal-second most wickets in the SA20.
The right-arm quick has also been able to put the brakes on the best opposition batters whether taking the new ball or bowling at the death, to only concede 6.11 runs an over.
The South Africa power-hitter lit up last year’s T20 World Cup but has struggled as the main man with the bat for the high-flying Pretoria Capitals.
Rossouw has disappointed in the SA20 with only 56 runs and a top score of 20 in seven innings.
The left-hander has not featured in the first two ODIs against England so has had time to ponder how he can turn around form that has yielded an average of 9.33 runs so far in the SA20.
Quinton de Kock ✅
— ICC (@ICC) January 18, 2023
Jos Buttler ✅
Kagiso Rabada ✅
Anrich Nortje ✅
All the leading batters and bowlers in the first week of the #SA20 👇https://t.co/2ovoYYprs6
Current record: played 8, won 4, lost 4, bonus points 1
Current position: second
The veteran all-rounder stunned the SA20 when claiming 6/20 against Durban's Super Giants to lead his team to a commanding 124-run victory.
The 38-year-old reaped the rewards of targeting the stumps with his tidy left-arm spin as his victims included international stars Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius and Kyle Mayers.
It was not the only match that the in-form van der Merwe has left his mark on, as he has also taken a trio of two-fors to have the most wickets in the SA20 with 14 at a measly average of 7.78 and economy rate on 4.73.
As the highest-priced recruit in the inaugural SA20 auction the emerging South Africa batter was always going to be under the spotlight more than usual for a 22-year-old with 13 international caps.
Stubbs has put together a few decent knocks for Sunrisers Eastern Cape but is yet to deliver the blows to live up to his lofty price tag.
The right-hander has 160 runs from eight innings, at an average of 26.66 and strike rate of 142.85, but will hope to improve on that with a playoff place within reach.
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