In a short timeframe, SA20 has caught up with the top T20 leagues in terms of playing standards. And one standout rule implemented in the South African T20 league is a major reason behind it.
Which rule, you ask? It’s the bonus point rule.
This interesting rule has prompted teams to push their limits and register thumping wins over one another. So what’s the rule about? And how does it work?
In this article, we’ll look at the bonus point rule implemented in SA20.
Bonus Point Rule in SA20
The bonus point is a pretty self-explanatory term. It’s like a team getting an additional point on top of the regular points they earn from a win.
And that’s pretty much the same in SA20, though the teams need to fulfil criteria to get that bonus point.
So how does a team get a bonus point in SA20?
The first and foremost thing is a team needs to win the match. Once a team wins a match in SA20, they earn four points, unlike two in other T20 leagues.
Now the winning team can make it five points if they pip their opponent by maintaining a run rate of more than 1.25 times over them. So if a team achieves the desired run rate, they will earn one bonus point, which may prove to be crucial.
Now let’s see how it works in the league.
In the opening match of the SA20 2025 season, MI Cape Town (MICT) received five points against Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC).
After being put in to bat first, MICT posted 174 runs on the scoreboard in 20 overs. That means Cape Town scored 8.70 runs per over, which was their innings run rate.
In response, the Eastern Cape were all out for 77 runs in 15 overs, with their run rate being just 5.13. Since MICT’s run rate was more than 1.25 times that of the Eastern Cape, they gained four winning points as well as a bonus point.
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But what’s the purpose behind the bonus point rule in SA20?
See, it’s pretty simple. In the last decade or so, T20 cricket has seen a paradigm shift.
The shortest format has gone beyond the usual bat-and-ball game, with fans craving more entertainment. And one way to increase the entertainment level is to make the matches more competitive, especially from the batting point of view.
After all, the fans sitting in the stadium want to see batters nailing down sixes and fours more often rather than taking singles or doubles. And the bonus point rule pushes teams to do that in almost every match.
So with the implementation of the bonus point rule, fans are getting a dose of ‘cricketainment’, while teams put up thrashing performances.
Apart from that, the bonus points also help in determining which teams qualify for the playoffs and the final. How so?
See, if two teams have equal points and occupy the fourth and fifth places, then the team with the most bonus points in the league stage will advance to the playoffs.
Likewise, if a playoff game gets washed out, the bonus point will come to the rescue to determine which team progresses ahead if both teams ended up with the same points in the league stage.
So in conclusion, the bonus point rule has helped SA20 increase the competitiveness among the teams.
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