The SA20, the latest entrant to the world of T20 leagues, has been making noise with breathtaking performances and an electric atmosphere. Now, T20 means the batters lighting up the scene, but some bowlers have the tricks to dismiss them.
The pitches in South Africa offer pace and bounce, which is enough for bowlers to trouble the batters. This is visible with bowlers grabbing wickets match after match.
This article will list the top 10 bowlers with the most wickets in SA20 history.
Most Wickets in SA20
| Player | Innings | Wickets | BBI | Average | 5W Haul |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottniel Baartman (PR/SEC) | 30 | 58 | 5/16 | 14.46 | 1 |
| Marco Jansen (SEC) | 41 | 56 | 5/30 | 19.30 | 1 |
| Kagiso Rabada (MICT) | 33 | 40 | 3/22 | 23.40 | 0 |
| Keshav Maharaj (DSG/PC) | 39 | 36 | 3/15 | 26.41 | 0 |
| Bjorn Fortuin (PR) | 41 | 35 | 3/14 | 30.91 | 0 |
| Eathan Bosch (DSG/PC) | 33 | 34 | 4/46 | 26.76 | 0 |
| Anrich Nortje (PC/SEC) | 18 | 33 | 4/13 | 13.39 | 0 |
| Lungi Ngidi (PC/PR) | 32 | 33 | 4/39 | 31.57 | 0 |
| George Linde (MICT) | 35 | 32 | 3/15 | 25.40 | 0 |
| Noor Ahmad (DSG) | 21 | 30 | 5/11 | 17.86 | 1 |
Key Insights on Leading Wicket Takers in SA20 Cricket
Milestone Records for Most Wickets in SA20
Marco Jansen and Ottneil Baartman are the two bowlers who’ve taken more than 50 wickets in SA20.
Jansen was the first bowler to pick up 50 wickets in the league, reaching the milestone in his 37th innings.
Baartman, however, is the fastest bowler to take 50 wickets in SA20, taking 27 innings.
Seasonal and Team-Specific Performance Records
Roelof van der Merwe, Anrich Nortje, and Marco Jansen have picked up the joint-most wickets in a single SA20 season.
Roelof and Nortje were the joint leading wicket-takers in the inaugural edition in 2023, taking 20 wickets each, while Jansen levelled their record in 2024.
Jansen and Baartman are the only two bowlers to take 10 or more wickets against three opponent teams each in SA20.
Best Bowling Figures and Individual Performance Records
Roelof van der Merwe grabbed the first five-wicket haul of the tournament’s history, taking 6 wickets for 20 runs against Durban’s Super Giants in 2023. His 6 for 20 remains the best bowling figures by a bowler in SA20.
Noor Ahmed, Junior Dala, Marco Jansen, and Delano Potgieter are the other bowlers to take a five-wicket haul each in SA20.
Jansen and Baartman are the two bowlers with three or more four-wicket hauls in SA20 history.
Roelof also has the lowest bowling average, economy rate, and strike rate in SA20’s history, taking 20 wickets at an average of 9.55, an economy rate of 5.61, and a strike rate of 10.2 in nine innings (minimum 100 balls bowled).
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