MI Cape Town are favorites to lift the trophy: SA20 Ambassador Allan Donald

As SA20 2025 approaches its grand finale on Saturday, February 8, 2025, featuring MI Cape Town against Sunrisers Eastern Cape, SA20 Ambassador Allan Donald shared insights during a virtual media interaction on the tournament's growth, its impact on emerging South African talent, and the highly anticipated final showdown.

Reflecting on the success of SA20 this season and its aspiration to become the biggest league after the IPL, Donald said: "It’s hard to believe a month has already passed. Everything about this league has been magnificently organized. It almost feels like you're at a T20 World Cup. The entire event feels huge, and Graeme and his team have done a phenomenal job. He’s absolutely right when he says that SA20 has found the right T20 model.

"Moving forward, this league has immense potential. It has been an incredible month, not just in terms of organization but also in terms of the quality of cricket on display. The overseas players have stepped up, and their impact on our young cricketers has been invaluable. Watching someone like Kane Williamson work with Matthew Breetzke is simply amazing. As a South African, I can proudly say this is a big deal, and it will only continue to grow over the next 10-20 years. For a third-season tournament, I am absolutely blown away by what I have experienced."

Donald emphasized how SA20 is shaping the future of South African cricket, saying: "That’s exactly why we bring overseas players in—to work with our young fast bowlers and batters. Seeing Richard Gleeson perform so well for Eastern Cape and watching Ottniel Baartman bowl alongside him is fantastic. Players like Marco Jansen are learning the art of bowling at the death from seasoned professionals. SA20 provides a steep learning curve—what a young player can pick up in a month here is equivalent to six months of regular cricket because of the sheer quality of experience in the dressing room. I’ve seen the same in the IPL with RCB. It’s an incredible platform for young cricketers to elevate their game. The pace of learning is accelerated because they are constantly making high-pressure decisions."

Donald highlighted some standout performers in this season’s SA20: "I have been particularly impressed by Rubin Hermann and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. We’ve seen two young stars emerge. I’ve watched Rubin a fair bit in domestic cricket, and to see what he’s done for Paarl Royals on this stage is fantastic. His brother, Jordan Hermann, didn’t play many games initially, but once he got his opportunity, he flourished. Kwena Maphaka has been outstanding as well/

"One player I think has been an unsung hero is Bjorn Fortuin. As a left-arm spinner, he has done a superb job for Paarl Royals, bowling tough overs, even in the powerplay. Eathan Bosch has now announced himself on the Test stage, and I couldn’t be happier for him. His father, Tertius Bosch, was a quick bowler, and I’m sure he would be extremely proud of his son’s journey. Eathan has now made a name for himself in both SA20 and Test cricket and is a consistent performer. He’s a fantastic prospect for South Africa’s future."

Looking ahead to the final showdown, Donald said: "Based purely on form, MI Cape Town would be the favorites to lift the trophy. But the boys from the Eastern Cape have peaked at the perfect time. They now look like a team with complete self-belief. This final has all the ingredients of an incredible match. We could very well see a team chasing 220 or 230—it’s going to come down to the wire. The way MI Cape Town have played, the clinical manner in which they have gone about their cricket, you have to say they deserve to be in the final and are the favorites to win. But Sunrisers Eastern Cape have shown immense character."

When asked about the challenges Sunrisers Eastern Cape might face in the final, Donald responded: "I don’t think they fear it at all. They’ve played in two finals before and have dealt with challenges along the way. Their coach, Adrian Birrell, is a great mental strategist. He knows how to fine-tune players' mindsets and keep them calm. This team had a rough start with three consecutive losses, but they bounced back, won five straight matches, had a slight dip, and then delivered two dominant performances.

"I don’t think they fear being in the final. The only factor that could influence the game is the pitch, but both teams will have to play on the same surface. The Wanderers pitch tomorrow should offer good pace and bounce. The team that needs to be more careful is MI Cape Town. They’ve had two difficult seasons, and the pressure is all on them. As much as they are favorites, they will have to play at their absolute best to win. Meanwhile, the boys in orange (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) will come out swinging. They have found their spark, and their last two performances have been clinical under pressure. They are a well-oiled machine, and stopping them won’t be easy. MI Cape Town will have to be at their absolute best to lift the trophy."