Sunrisers Eastern Cape: SA20 Franchise Profile and History

Sunrisers Eastern Cape are the SA20 franchise representing the Eastern Cape province, based in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth. They won the first two SA20 championships, in 2023 and 2024, and are the league’s early benchmark.

Origins

The team was created in 2022 and is owned by the Sun TV Network, the group that also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. The orange colours and the Sunrisers name come from that IPL brand, and the franchise is part of the owner’s wider international cricket portfolio.

Home ground

The team plays at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, one of South Africa’s oldest Test venues. It hosted the country’s first home Test in 1889, in the early years of the sport. The ground is known for conditions that can offer turn as well as seam movement, and for its strong local support.

Championship wins

In the inaugural SA20 season in 2023, Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the final against Pretoria Capitals to claim the first title.

In 2024 they successfully defended their crown, beating Durban’s Super Giants in the final. As of 2024 this made them the only side to have won the SA20 title.

Legacy

The back-to-back wins established the franchise as one of the league’s strongest and gave the Eastern Cape a notable profile in South African cricket. The team has combined local talent with overseas internationals through the auction and wildcard system used by all six franchises.

This profile covers only well-established history and does not include current squads, captains, coaches or standings.