The 2020–21 CSA 4-Day Franchise Series was a first-class cricket competition that took place in South Africa from November 2020 to March 2021.[1][2] Six teams took part in the tournament, split into two groups.[1] Lions were the defending champions.[3][4]
| Dates | 2 November 2020 – 29 March 2021 |
|---|---|
| Administrator(s) | Cricket South Africa |
| Cricket format | First-class |
| Tournament format(s) | Double round-robin |
| Champions | Dolphins (1st title) |
| Participants | 6 |
| Matches | 22 |
| Most runs | Aiden Markram (945) |
| Most wickets | Keshav Maharaj (34) |
Ahead of the opening round of fixtures, Warriors withdrew six members of its team due to COVID-19.[5] Two players tested positive,[6] with another four players withdrawn from being in direct contact with the two positive cases.[7] The round five fixture between Titans and Dolphins was called off on the morning of day two, after a player returned a positive test for COVID-19.[8] As a result of the increase in positive COVID-19 cases, the sixth round of matches, originally scheduled to start on 20 December 2020, was postponed until 2021.[9][10]
In February 2021, Cricket South Africa issued a revised schedule for the last two rounds and the final of the tournament.[11] The following month, Cricket South Africa also confirmed that this was the last season of franchise cricket, following a revamp to their domestic structure.[12] Following the conclusion of the group stage, Dolphins and Titans had qualified for the final of the tournament.[13] Despite nearly two days of play being lost due to rain,[14] Dolphins went on to win the final by an innings and 76 runs, winning their first outright title.[15]
Points tables edit
Fixtures edit
Round 1 edit
Round 2 edit
9–12 November 2020
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- Warriors won the toss and elected to bat.
- Only 45 overs were bowled on day 1 due to rain.
- Tabraiz Shamsi took the best bowling figures for Titans in a first-class match.[17]
9–12 November 2020
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- Knights won the toss and elected to bat.
- Lifa Ntanzi (Dolphins) made his first-class debut.
Round 3 edit
Round 4 edit
Round 5 edit
13–16 December 2020
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- Titans won the toss and elected to bat.
- The match was called off on the morning of day two after a player returned a positive test for COVID-19.[18]
Round 6 edit
7–10 March 2021
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- Cape Cobras won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
Round 7 edit
Final edit
25–29 March 2021
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- Dolphins won the toss and elected to bat.
- Only 10 overs were bowled on day 1 due to rain.
- No play was possible on day 2 due to rain.
References edit
- ^ a b "CSA announces franchise and provincial fixtures for 2020/21 Season". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Domestic cricket in South Africa to resume on November 2". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Lions and Dolphins crowned domestic champions on Graeme Smith's recommendation". ESPN Cricinfo. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "CSA announces 2019/20 domestic tournament winners". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Warriors withdraw 6 players due to Covid-19 ahead of season opener against Knights". Independent Online. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Warriors missing 6 players as Covid-19 dogs local cricket's return". News24. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Covid-19: Six Warriors players withdrawn from opening round after testing positive". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "4-DAY Domestic Series: Titans vs Dolphins clash called off". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Final round of South Africa's domestic fixtures postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "4-Day Domestic Series Round 6 postponed". Cricket South Africa. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "CSA announces new dates for Provincial and Franchise cricket". Cricket World. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "Revamped two-tier South African domestic structure ready to take off". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- ^ "Maharaj, Markram to the fore again as Dolphins and Titans reach final". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "CSA congratulates 4-Day Domestic Series winners". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "Dolphins complete spinning masterclass against Titans to be crowned 4-Day champions". News24. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ a b "2020–21 CSA 4-Day Franchise Series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Shamsi shines as Titans extend their 4-Day Tournament dominance". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Titans vs Dolphins called off after Dolphins player tests Covid-19 positive". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2020.