Only a week remains before the SA20 2024 group stage gets over. The race for the playoffs have intensified, with only Durban Super Giants confirming their playoff stage spot till now. The battle for the other three playoff spots is on in full-flow, with as many as five teams vying to take the remaining spots. Among the five teams that are in the hunt, Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape are in a slightly advantageous position. Although, it remains an open race, with a single victory or defeat capable of making or marring the high hopes. Let’s take a look at the SA20 2024 qualification scenario.
Points table
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durban Super Giants | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1.757 |
| Paarl Royals | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 22 | -0.355 |
| Sunrisers Eastern Cape | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 0.784 |
| Pretoria Capitals | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | -1.282 |
| MI Cape Town | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 0.110 |
| Joburg Super Kings | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -1.833 |
Durban Super Giants
Durban Super Giants have become the first team to qualify to the playoff stage. They secured successive victories in their last two matches and have gained a healthy lead over other contenders. They will finish second even if they lose their remaining matches as the Royals and Sunrisers face each other in their last two fixtures and only one of them can reach in top two in the standings.
Remaining fixtures: vs Capitals, Durban, Jan 30; vs Super Kings, Johannesburg, Feb 3
Paarl Royals
Paarl Royals witnessed contrasting fortunes to toppers Durban Super Giants in their last two games. The Royals were cruising at one point of time, topping the table with five wins in six matches. However, they suffered consecutive defeats to the Super Giants that pushed them to the second spot. They have two remaining fixtures against Super Giants and defeat in both of them can see them being knocked out of the playoff spot. However, the Royals only need one win out of their remaining two matches to qualify for the playoff berth.
Remaining fixtures: vs Eastern Cape, Paarl, Feb 2, vs Eastern Cape, Gqeberha, Feb 4
Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Sunrisers Eastern Cape sit on the third place of SA20 2024 table with 19 points from seven matches. The Sunrisers have a great chance to qualify for the playoff berth with the equation fairly simple: win two of the remaining three matches.
Remaining fixtures: vs Super Kings, Johannesburg, Jan 31; vs Royals, Paarl, Feb 2; vs Royals, Gqeberha, Feb 4
Pretoria Capitals
Pretoria Capitals have 10 points from seven matches and are not at all safe in the SA20 2024 qualification scenario with MI Cape Town and Joburg Super Kings following them close on heels. The simplest way for the Capitals to qualify for the playoff is to win every game and hope that Super Kings do not win more than 1 match with bonus points. Two wins can also give the Capitals a place in the top four provided Super Kings drop one game and MI do not win with a bonus point.
Remaining fixtures: vs Super Giants, Durban, Jan 30; vs MI Cape Town, Centurion, Feb 1; vs MI Cape Town, Cape Town, Feb 3
MI Cape Town
Although the MI Cape Town are out of the playoff spots at the moment, they are the master of their own destiny. They have 9 points from 7 matches and are laguishing at the fifth spot. However, if the MI franchise manage to win all three of their remaining matches, they will qualify to the playoff stage. MI can also qualify if they can win two wins with bonus points but then the Capitals and Super Kings have to lose one of their three games.
Remaining fixtures: vs Super Kings, Cape Town, Jan 29; vs Capitals, Centurion, Feb 1; vs Capitals, Cape Town, Feb 3
Joburg Super Kings
The Joburg Super Kings are languishing at the bottom of the SA20 2024 table with only 8 points in 7 games. They will need to improve drastically to take one of the remaining playoff berths up for grabs. Moreover, they will have to be dependent on other contenders to secure their place. In addition to winning all their remaining matches, the Super Kings will need Capitals to lose at least one game.
Remaining fixtures: vs MI Cape Town, Cape Town, Jan 29, vs Eastern Cape, Johannesburg, Jan 31, vs Super Giants, Johannesburg, Feb 3
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