SA20 Season 4 first half recap: Shai Hope, Lungi Ngidi register massive milestones as fans, viewership continue to rise | Cricket News
The opening fortnight of SA20 Season 4 has delivered exactly what it promised — high-octane cricket, packed venues across all six centres and a festive-season buzz that has travelled well beyond the boundary ropes.On the field, the first half of the tournament has been defined by standout team efforts and individual brilliance, with records tumbling at regular intervals.
Hope becomes highest individual scorer in SA20 historyOne of the defining moments came in Match 16 at Kingsmead, a night that will linger long in the memory of the SA20. Pretoria Capitals opener Shai Hope produced a knock of rare quality, smashing an unbeaten 118 to overtake Kyle Verreynne’s 113* and claim the highest individual score in the league’s history.Hope’s innings also placed him alongside MI Cape Town’s Ryan Rickelton as one of only two centurions of Season 4 so far. Rickelton has been in imperious form, adding a second hundred in Match 20 against Joburg Super Kings, and currently sits atop the run charts with 317 runs at a strike rate of 172.28, punctuated by 24 sixes.Ngidi takes SA20’s first hat-trick
Pretoria Capitals’ Lungi Ngidi celebrates a wicket against Sunrisers Eastern Cape (Photo credit: SA20)
Kingsmead had more history to offer that evening. Capitals seamer Lungi Ngidi etched his name into the SA20 record books by claiming the competition’s first-ever hat-trick, removing David Wiese, Sunil Narine and Gerald Coetzee in quick succession to cap a memorable night.Season 4 has also reinforced the league’s growing global appeal, with players from a wide range of countries making decisive contributions during the opening two weeks. Paarl Royals bowlers Ottneil Baartman and Sikandar Raza lead the wicket-taking charts with 11 scalps apiece. Baartman, in the process, crossed the 50-wicket mark in SA20, joining his former Sunrisers Eastern Cape teammate Marco Jansen in an elite club.The batting milestones have been just as significant. The league’s 1000-run club has expanded to five members, with Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Faf du Plessis joining Heinrich Klaasen and Rickelton in reaching the landmark.14 matches sold out of 17 completed onesAway from the pitch, the numbers tell a story of a league continuing to gather momentum. Fans have turned out in record numbers, with the competition registering its highest tally of sold-out matches at this stage since inception. Of the 17 matches completed at the time of writing, 14 were sold out — four more than at the same point last season — alongside a 22% rise in ticket sales across the first 15 matches compared to Season 3. The Final has once again proven the fastest seller, selling out in fewer days than last year.SuperSport, JioStar record viewership boost
The coveted SA20 trophy teams are fighting for. (Photo Credit: SA20)
Broadcast figures have mirrored the on-ground energy. On host broadcaster SuperSport, the Season 4 opener drew a larger local linear audience than other major T20 leagues, outperforming the most recent IPL opening fixture by 59% and the Big Bash League by 118%.In India, JioStar’s Star Sports network recorded its highest-ever viewership for a SA20 opening match, with the MI Cape Town versus Durban’s Super Giants clash delivering a 23% increase over Season 3. Streaming numbers have followed suit, with JioHotstar registering a 50% jump in live video views.Digital engagement has surged as well, with video views across social media platforms up 116% compared to the same stage last season, while overall audience growth has already touched 137% — clear evidence that the league’s footprint continues to expand, both at home and abroad.
