In August 2022, Cricket South Africa announced the establishment of the SA20, a Twenty20 Cricket competition to be started in 2023. The teams for the competition, representing six cities, including the Eastern Cape, were put up on auction in September 2022. The franchise is owned by Kalanithi Maran of the Sun Group.[6]
2023 season
They were the champions of the first season of the tournament after they beat Pretoria Capitals by four wickets in the final at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Having successfully lead the team to their inaugural SA20 title, Markram was later appointed as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2023 season of the IPL.[7]
2024 season
The Sunrisers defended their title to become champions for a second time. They beat Durban's Super Giants by 89 runs in the final at Cape Town.[8]
2025 season
The season started poorly, with the Sunrisers losing their first three games, and after four games they were bottom of the log. However, they finished strongly, ending in third place and qualifying for the Eliminator.
In the knockout rounds, they defeated Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator and then Paarl Royals in the 2nd Qualifier. However, they were comprehensively defeated by MI Cape Town in the final.[9]
2026 season
Home ground
St George's Park Cricket Ground, the home ground of Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Sunrisers Eastern Cape play their home matches at St George's Park Cricket Ground in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The stadium, established in 1882, is one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country and has a seating capacity of approximately 19,000 spectators. It has hosted international Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches, as well as domestic competitions. Since the inaugural SA20 season in 2023, St George's Park has served as the home venue of Sunrisers Eastern Cape and is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, with the club's supporters, known as the Orange Army, creating one of the most distinctive match-day experiences in the league.[10]
The venue has witnessed several memorable moments in the franchise's history, including numerous home victories during their championship-winning SA20 campaigns. The ground is also known for its pace-friendly conditions, particularly under lights, which often provide assistance to fast bowlers while remaining conducive to stroke play as the innings progresses.
Current squad
Players with international caps are listed in bold.
2027 Sunrisers Eastern Cape season
South Africa
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Australia
New Zealand
Bangladesh
