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Right then, a highly-anticipated clash but the return of SA20 which thrilled the fans in its first season has been delayed as the opening game between reigning champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Johannesburg Super Kings has been called off. The fans will be frustrated and so will the players but the crowd inside the stadium, well most of it, stayed until the very end and kept their spirits high with singing and dancing and even the brass band was playing. Anyway, that is it from this game but the tournament has just begun and on Thursday, 11 January, Durban Super Giants will take on MI Cape Town at Kingsmead in Durban. That game will begin at 9 pm IST (3.30 pm GMT) but our build-up will begin a lot sooner. Do join us then. Till then, take care and goodbye!

UPDATE 11.56 pm IST (6.26 pm GMT) - There it is, we have the official word and the opening game of SA20 2024 has been abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to rain. There was rain from the beginning of the day and while there were moments of hope, the rain never really completely went away and even with the excellent drainage system, there was no chance of play taking place.

UPDATE 11.42 pm IST (6.12 pm GMT) - The umpires can now be seen having a serious chat with the ground staff and there is movement near the covers. Unbelievably, the covers seem to be peeled off except for the pitch cover and we might get a five-over game after all. Let's not get too carried away as the drizzle is still around but there is hope and we should get an official word soon.

UPDATE 11.31 pm IST (6.01 pm GMT) - The live visuals from the ground show the players sitting in the dressing room and the brass band still playing and keeping the crowd entertained. There's still a bit of drizzle in the air and the umpires are just waiting to deliver an official word regarding the state of play. We should get the final word on whether play will take place or not pretty soon as that cut-off time nears. Stay tuned.

UPDATE 10.52 pm IST (5.22 pm GMT) - Oh, dear! There was a lot of water on the outfield and a lot of hard work was going into clearing it and the moment, the ground staff decided to peel off the main cover, it started drizzling again. The rest of the covers are also coming back on just a few minutes later and it looks like we will have another frustrating delay. Stay tuned for more updates.

UPDATE 10.15 pm IST (4.45 pm GMT) - Hang on a minute, it has stopped raining all of a sudden and the covers are slowly coming off as well. It seems like the Rain Gods have shown a bit of mercy and we might actually get more than a decent game in. Stay tuned for the latest updates.

UPDATE 9.40 pm IST (4.10 pm GMT) - There is no update regarding the weather but we have an update regarding the playing scenarios. There is an extension of one hour before overs start getting cut down which means we will start losing overs in about 20 minutes time. Also, the latest by which a five-overs-a-side game can start is about 12.21 am IST (6.51 pm GMT), so, we do have a lot of time on our hands but everything depends on the weather. Stick around for more updates.

UPDATE 9.17 pm IST (3.47 pm GMT) - There is no good news from the venue and the rain seems to be pouring down quite heavily now which means we are in for a long delay. All we can do now is keep our fingers crossed and hope that the rain recedes real soon. Stay tuned for more latest updates.

UPDATE 8.43 pm IST (3.13 pm GMT) - The news from the ground is that the toss is officially delayed and we will have a delayed start as well. It has been raining in Gqeberha for a while now but the forecast for the next couple of hours seems fine with some light rain later in the day as well. Stick around for more updates.

The stage is set for an exciting return to South Africa's premier franchise T20 competition but unfortunately, it is currently raining in Gqeberha and we might be in for a bit of a delay. Let's hope for the best and for a quick turnaround. Stay tuned for further updates.

Led by the experienced Faf du Plessis, Johannesburg Super Kings boast one of the most formidable lineups on paper in the SA20. With a roster comprising several match-winners like Moeen Ali, Romario Shepherd, Nandre Burger and Imran Tahir with extensive T20 experience, they emerge as strong contenders to reach the finals and vie for the championship. In the previous edition, the Super Kings showcased their potential by ironing out weaknesses and performing cohesively in most matches. Despite their consistency, they faced a setback in the semifinals, falling short of reaching the ultimate stage. Will the Super Kings avenge their previous loss, or will the Sunrisers extend their winning streak? Let's find out as the toss and team news comes to you in a bit.

Drum rolls, please! It's that time of the year again as stars from across the globe descend on South African shores for the much-anticipated SA20 League. The inaugural season of South Africa's cricket carnival was a huge success, and this edition promises to be even more entertaining and exciting. Similar to the inaugural edition, we will have the double round-robin format in place, with six teams playing five home games and five away games. As far as the playoff structure of the 2024 SA20 League is concerned, the top four teams will advance to the playoffs as was the case in the first season. However, instead of the two semi-finals, Qualifier 1 will pit the top two teams, and the victor will advance straight to the final. The defeated team moves to Qualifier 2, facing the winner of the Eliminator (third versus fourth) for the second finalist spot. The 2024 SA20 League kicks off with the inaugural winners, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, taking on the Johannesburg Super Kings at St George's Park in Gqeberha. The Aiden Markram-led Sunrisers had a memorable debut season in the SA20 League, where they defeated the best team of the league stage, the Pretoria Capitals, in the final of the 2023 tournament to clinch their maiden title. Named Player of the Tournament in the 2023 SA20 League, Markram will look forward to leading from the front once again. Due to their successful campaign, the Sunrisers have wisely chosen continuity by retaining key players such as Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs and Ottniel Baartman. They have strengthened their spin department with the addition of Simon Harmer and Caleb Seleka, while the all-rounder duo of Beyers Swanepoel and Andile Simelane add depth to their pace department. The Sunrisers have added English flavour to their overseas contingent with the signings of Dawid Malan, Liam Dawson, and Craig Overton. Familiar faces Tom Abell, Brydon Carse, and Adam Rossington return to don the Sunrisers colours. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape seem to have all bases covered this season as well, so don't be surprised if they go on to win it all again. On the other hand, the Johannesburg Super Kings were knocked out in the semi-final by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the inaugural edition. The Super Kings were one of the strongest teams last season and made it to the playoffs as the second-placed team. Led by Faf du Plessis, the Super Kings aim to go all the way this season. Adding international firepower with Moeen Ali, David Wiese, Sam Cook, and Zahir Khan, along with the retained Romario Shepherd and Leus du Plooy, the Super Kings present a formidable overseas lineup. The inclusion of Imran Tahir solidifies their squad, complementing a talented local roster featuring Reeza Hendricks, Donovan Ferreira, Nandre Burger, and Gerald Coetzee. The Johannesburg Super Kings look solid on paper, but the real test lies on the field. The stage is set for the party to get started in the Rainbow Nation. Who do you fancy to emerge victorious on the opening night of the 2024 SA20 League?