Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 SA20
Paarl Royals host Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the next match of the SA20 in 2023.
The start of play is scheduled for 5.30pm local time (3.30pm GMT) on Thursday, January 19.
The game will be staged at Boland Park in Paarl.
Every team in the tournament has won twice so far, and all that's separating the sides are a smattering of bonus points, which mean Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape are separated by just a single point but also by five places.
Sunrisers lost their first two but have recovered to successfully chase in back-to-back wins over MI Cape Town. Paarl got back to winning ways on Tuesday, winning by 10 runs against Durban Super Giants.
Jason Roy and Jos Buttler are yet to fully fire [Sportzpics/CSA/SA20]
Getting Jos Buttler out early is key in any T20 match. He hasn't properly fired yet in this competition despite a half century on debut. Jason Roy, meanwhile, looks horribly out of touch and used up 13 balls for three last time out. Whether Paarl take him out of the firing line remains to be seen but feels unlikely.
Sunrisers were indebted to Marco Jansen's all-round talents on Wednesday; his 27-ball 66 included seven sixes and three fours to somehow drag them over the line against MI.
Eastern Cape will want more from overseas batter Jordan Cox and wicketkeeper Adam Rossington, but they will be chuffed with their collective comeback after a slow start.
An warm day is expected in Paarl, with temperatures hitting around 27 degrees Celsius at the start of play on Thursday.
Paarl have a decision to make over Jason Roy's form but otherwise come in on the back of a good win over Durban. Eastern Cape, meanwhile, are riding the wave of inflicting back-to-back defeats on Cape Town. Tom Abell could come in for Jordan Cox.
Paarl Royals: Ferisco Adams, Corbin Bosch, Jos Buttler, Bjorn Fortuin, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe, Imraan Manack, David Miller, Eoin Morgan, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jason Roy, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ramon Simmonds, Mitchell van Buuren, Dane Vilas, Codi Yusuf
Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Tom Abell, Marques Ackerman, Ottniel Baartman, Brydon Carse, Mason Crane, Jordan Cox, Junaid Dawood, Sarel Erwee, James Fuller, Aya Gqamane, Marco Jansen, Jordan Hermann, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Adam Rossington, Jon-Jon Smuts, Roelof van der Merwe
*Squads are for the whole SA20 and not specific to this match
Sunrisers Eastern Cape are the form team [Sportzpics/CSA/SA20]
Paarl Royals: Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Wihan Lubbe, Dane Vilas, David Miller, Eoin Morgan, Evan Jones, Ferisco Adams, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Adam Rossington, JJ Smuts, Sarel Erwee, Aiden Markram, Tom Abell, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Brydon Carse, Roelof van der Merwe, Sisanda Magala, Ottniel Baartman
Paarl Royals are favourites, available at 4/6. Eastern Cape are outsiders at 5/4.
Paarl Royals have the batting line-up to win any game, but Sunrisers are the form team and might just have enough to sneak to a third straight win.
Tickets are available for between 60 rand (£2) and 130 rand (£6.25) through Ticketpro.
Sky Sports has the UK rights to SA20 matches for five years, and the games will be spread across Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix.
In India, Sports18 and Jio Cinema will broadcast and stream all the matches.
SuperSport will carry the games to South Africa and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.
In Australia, you'll need to go to Foxtel for full coverage.
The Cricketer will carry match reports from every game.
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