By Tim Douglas 
The SA20 Team of the Season 3 has been officially announced, and it’s no surprise that champions MI Cape Town dominate the lineup. With an impressive five players making the cut, the title-winning squad showcased their dominance throughout the tournament.
Led by Aiden Markram of Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the squad features a mix of explosive batters, all-round talents, and world-class bowlers who delivered match-winning performances in SA20 Season 3.
MI Cape Town’s Impact: Five Players in the Elite XI
Ryan Rickelton: The Run Machine
Opening batter Ryan Rickelton had a phenomenal season, finishing as the competition’s all-time leading run-scorer. He amassed 336 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 178.82, proving to be a nightmare for opposition bowlers. Additionally, he was sharp behind the stumps, securing nine dismissals.
Dewald Brevis: A Star in the Making
At just 21, Dewald Brevis announced himself as a future superstar, racking up 291 runs at an average of 48.5. His fearless batting saw him dominate both spin and pace, striking at 211 against fast bowlers and 149 against spinners.
George Linde: The All-Round Dynamo
George Linde played a crucial role in MI Cape Town’s triumph, delivering with both bat and ball. He scored 40.24 runs per innings at a strike rate of 153.33 while also taking 11 wickets at an economy of just 6.29.
Kagiso Rabada & Trent Boult: The Deadly Duo
MI Cape Town’s fast-bowling duo, Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult, were in top form throughout the competition. Both maintained outstanding economy rates (6.53 and 6.94, respectively) and delivered under pressure.
In the final, Rabada’s 4/25 and Boult’s 2/9 sealed the victory, with Boult earning the Player of the Final award.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape & Paarl Royals Well-Represented
Aiden Markram: The Captain Marvel
Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Aiden Markram has been named skipper of the Team of the Season. He led his side to their third straight SA20 Final and delivered with the bat, scoring 340 runs, including three half-centuries.
Marco Jansen: The Tournament MVP
Markram’s teammate Marco Jansen was named both SA20 Player of the Season and Bowler of the Season after an outstanding performance, taking 19 wickets at an average of 18.42.
Richard Gleeson: Sunrisers’ Bowling Spearhead
English pacer Richard Gleeson played a key role with the ball, consistently troubling batters and providing early breakthroughs.
Paarl Royals’ Contributions
The Paarl Royals also had three players selected in the squad:
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Leading run-scorer with 397 runs and named Batter of the Season).
- Joe Root (Averaged 55.80, striking at 140.20, before missing the playoffs due to international duty).
- David Miller (Averaged 58.50, adding experience to the middle order).
12th Man: Donovan Ferreira (Joburg Super Kings)
Joburg Super Kings’ Donovan Ferreira was named the 12th man, thanks to his impressive all-round performances throughout the season.
Complete SA20 Team of the Season 3
1. Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Paarl Royals)
2. Ryan Rickelton (WK) (MI Cape Town)
3. Joe Root (Paarl Royals)
4. Aiden Markram (C) (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
5. Dewald Brevis (MI Cape Town)
6. David Miller (Paarl Royals)
7. Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
8. George Linde (MI Cape Town)
9. Kagiso Rabada (MI Cape Town)
10. Richard Gleeson (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
11. Trent Boult (MI Cape Town)
12th man: Donovan Ferreira (Joburg Super Kings)
Zainab Shafiq