From prego rolls to singalongs: An SA20 matchday experience told from the grass embankments

TimesofIndia.com in Johannesburg: Former South Africa cricketers, who have become ambassadors of the SA20, don't hesitate from acknowledging that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the big fish in franchise T20 cricket. The economics would clarify that the IPL is the big blue whale.

Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis had said ahead of the fourth edition, “If you speak to someone like Graeme Smith (SA20 League Commissioner), they would say to you that they’re always learning from the IPL and the way that they’ve taken the 15 years of setting up a world-class league. Certainly, we as the players can feel that.”



On the ground, there is plenty for the IPL to learn from SA20, too. Having been to IPL games across the country and to the SA20 for two seasons now, the fan experience is staggeringly different.

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On Friday, as Sunrisers Eastern Cape took on Paarl Royals at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in Qualifier 2, I decided to take in the experience, not from the press box but from the grass embankments - just as droves of locals do.

An hour before the 5pm toss, crowd was still trickling in as the weekend approached. The sun was out in full force but the heat wasn't harsh. The security stationed outside the 'Bullring' had conveniently blocked sections of the street and made things easier for fans to walk to the stadium.

As the sun started to fade and the toss started to get closer, the sheer volume of people grew in numbers. Just like other venues in South Africa, families, kids, teenagers, youngsters were all out in attendance. People arrived with their picnic baskets, mats, lawn chairs, some even with cushion seats. That, after all, is part of the experience - something you don't get in most countries.

With the contest still to start, there were extensive queues outside the multiple food and drink shops. To ensure there is no excessive crowding at one place, the food trucks and pop-up drink shops have been spread out throughout the complex.

This reporter walked across and queued up for drinks - one of the refreshing alcoholic beverages unavailable in India - coupled with a Portuguese Prego Roll. (Fun fact: South Africa is home to one of the world's largest Portuguese diaspora communities!)

With the drink and food in tow, I made my way to one of the entrances for the grassed areas. Considering I was late to this adventure, the prime spaces had filled up. Large swathes of space were occupied by families and youngsters who had come in big groups. Still, there was a tiny bit of space left for me.

The experience and vibe was electric! Even though Paarl Royals scored just 114 and Sunrisers Eastern Cape chased it down with 50 balls to spare, every boundary, six and wicket was cheered in good volume.

The chances for fans to pluck a single-handed catch in the stands, for a chance to throw their hat into the ring for a hefty R2 million (Rs 1.13 crore) prize, was reduced to just seven. When the sixes did come, the fans tried their best to hold on but it never materialised. Unfortunately for this reporter, there was no such luck either.

Even when the action underwhelmed, the stadium DJ ensured the crowd remained active by playing some singalong classics such as Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer and Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe. The innovative on-screen fan activities - face morphing and kiss cam to name just two - added another layer of entertainment.


The cricket might have underwhelmed with Paarl Royals struggling to string together partnerships and Sunrisers Eastern Cape progressing to their fourth consecutive SA20 final, but the crowd didn't care all that much. Having enjoyed an evening of cricket the way the locals do, neither did I.


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