Champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape to host opening game of second season of SA20

Each of the six franchises will host a home match in the opening week, bringing to life the fierce contests and city-based rivalries amongst the six Indian Premier League (IPL)-owned teams.

Following the season opener in Gqeberha, Durban's Super Giants (DSG) host MI Cape Town in a coastal derby at Kingsmead on Thursday, 11 January before Paarl Royals and last season™s runners-up Pretoria Capitals, face off at Boland Park on Friday, 12 January.

The Wanderers will kick off a bumper opening weekend when JSK and MI Cape Town go head-to-head at the Bullring on Saturday, 13 January before the Sunrisers tackle DSG at St George's Park.

The action then moves to the nation's capital where the Pretoria Capitals welcome the Paarl Royals to Centurion on Sunday 14 January.

MI Cape Town will host their first home match at Newlands on Tuesday, 16 January against the Sunrisers.

The League also announced a new playoff structure for Season two; with a qualifier 1, eliminator and a qualifier 2 setting up the road to the final.

The top two teams will play each other in qualifier 1, followed by the eliminator between the third and fourth-placed teams.

The loser of qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator will battle it out in qualifier 2, for a chance to book their place in the final, against the winner of qualifier 1.

SA20 league commissioner Graeme Smith said: "With the Season 2 auction around the corner, the momentum is building and we are thrilled to announce these fixtures.

"We have a jam-packed opening week of matches which will captivate fans around the country. We have been intentional in giving families, friends and our new fans an opportunity to watch as many matches as possible, with mid-week fixtures starting from 17h30 and weekends providing prime summer evening viewing. It was fantastic to see all the fan support in year 1.

"Fans can mark their calendars and expect to see more of what they experienced last summer -the same vibe, entertainment and world class international and local talent in Season 2."

All six franchises have named their preliminary squads for the second season, and will finalise their 19-player roster at the auction on 27 September.

READ MORE: SA20 teams announce competitive preliminary squads ahead of auction