Despite some challenges, ILT20 is a success the country as a whole, even those who don’t care about cricket, can enjoy and feel proud of. It is a window through which the world can see our resilience and determination to succeed.

Betway SA20 Season 3 saw unprecedented growth across broadcast, attendance and digital platforms with all six venues recording sell-out matches on occasion. This included a record-breaking final at Newlands where MI Cape Town defended their title and made history by becoming the first team in South African T20 league history to win all of their home matches.

SA20 Changes South African Cricket

It also gave some of the game’s newest stars an opportunity to shine. The likes of Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Lutho Sipamla and 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka have all carved out reputations for themselves by performing well in the competition. But it is the bowlers who have caused the most upsets, with Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Ottneil Baartman proving their quality in nail-biting encounters.

The league has also created a path for some young players to make their living from the game and, in the case of the more senior ones, a bridge between a domestic structure that may need another overhaul and a national team that qualified for its first ever T20 World Cup final last year. It remains to be seen whether this can translate into sustained success at the highest level, but with a growing pool of talent and some exciting young players making their way into the fold, the future looks bright for South African T20 cricket.