No Test matches in South Africa this season? No problem! 

It’s a weird feeling being at Newlands on New Year’s Eve. OK, weird in a good way though. The  “house full” signs are likely going up in both Gqeberha and Cape Town. 

Graeme Smith and his SA20 team have moved into the window with aplomb. The fourth season is well underway, and the experience for fans is another enhancement on the successful recipe that has been built over three bumper seasons. 

As I type these words before the start of the match, there are youngsters playing cricket on a quarter of the field. The gates are opening an hour early this year to give them the opportunity to play their own brand of cricket on the manicured outfield. It’s a nice touch, one that their Dads or maybe Grandpas may remember was commonplace in their day. 

I walk around the ground and the vendors are doing good business. Their window to make the most benefit out of the burgeoning crowd is small. There is a plethora of options for the hungry and thirsty. Pizza, Burgers, Shawarmas, Chip & Dip, KFC and more, together with a seemingly limitless supply of a certain brownish beverage. 

The crowd are perhaps going to need a few more of those to drown their sorrows. The home team were firstly smashed around by Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford for 92 in the last 5 overs, before capitulating from 100/2 after 8.2 overs to be all out for 135. 

On the stage, Dalin Oliver is doing his best to gee up the crowd, but as the 8th wicket falls there are many who are making an early exit. They had a lot to cheer when Nicholas Pooran hit 4 sixes out of the first 5 balls he faced. It was a blistering start for the home side, and there was hope from the flag-waving Newlands faithful. Alas for those in Blue and Gold, it was not to be the end to 2025 they were looking for. 

Coach Robbie P and his team will assess the damage next year (tomorrow ;-)). He remains upbeat, and reminds us in the post-match press conference that teams have lost their opening 3 games and won the competition. We are 8 games in and it’s too early to call the season.

The sense of occasion, the day of the year and where nearly 20,000 people have spent their evening are not lost on me. 

Whatever happens in 2026, the 2025 cricketing year (and what a year it was) has ended in style, SA20 fashion!