The second season of the SA20 saw the Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinch the title at a sold-out Newlands final earlier this year.
It’s now been revealed how the tournament surpassed many figures from the first season, both of which were incredibly well supported by cricket lovers.
SA20 stats and facts from season 2
Cricket Excellence: Season 2 featured four centuries (Kyle Verreynne, Jordan Hermann, Rassie van der Dussen and Will Jacks), 49 half-centuries, and a total of 454 sixes by the batters, whilst on the bowling front, there were 3 5-wicket hauls (Noor Ahmad, Junior Dala and Marco Jansen). Combined, this showcased the competitive cricket with 10 thrilling last-over finishes.
Record Attendance: The season saw a surge in fan interest, with 10 sold-out matches with 98% of fans expressing satisfaction with the stadium experience.
Global Viewership: Globally, SA20 recorded a 21% increase in broadcaster viewership, continuing to solidify its status as a popular global sporting event.
SuperSport: On SuperSport, the league witnessed a 24% increase in viewership and a 26% increase in viewing time across the Season 2 audience with 46% of viewers being female.
Digital Engagement: Season 2 saw unprecedented digital engagement, with 75 million video views and an 882% increase in social engagements during the Final compared to Season 1.
Media Coverage: Extensive media coverage generated 18,000 media items, amplifying the league’s reach and impact.
PR Value: The league’s success translated into a remarkable global PR value of R4 billion, enhancing its brand exposure and reputation.
Sold-Out Final: The Final, hosted at Newlands Cricket Ground in Season 2, was sold out for the second consecutive year, highlighting the league’s appeal as South Africa’s premier T20 cricket competition.
Social Impact: SA20 continued its commitment to social impact, raising R900,000 for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa to support community development initiatives.
A resounding success
The social following for the League more than doubled in Season 2 whilst video views, website visits and engagements also recorded increases of more than 100%.
Media coverage globally was extensive generating a PR value of R4 billion and reaching a cumulative audience of 75.5 billion. In South Africa, SA20 attracted non-traditional news coverage with a media value of R64 million.
League Commissioner Graeme Smith hailed the season’s success, crediting fans, partners, players and stakeholders for their support.
“We are proud to celebrate the success of Season 2 of the SA20. The continued growth in our viewership, following, engagement and attendance numbers reflects growing interest for both the product and the excellent cricket that was showcased this past season. We once again thank all the fans, players, partners and broadcasters, franchises and stakeholders for their support which led to another successful season.”