R30 to watch cricket at Newlands is the bargain of October

I had a dilemma this past weekend - the last of the Spring school holidays.

After exhausting a lot of activities over the previous week, what could we do that would be different (and not cost an arm and a leg)?

As a big sporting family, we are always on the lookout for when the Cape Town teams are in action, but seeing as the Stormers are currently in Europe and the international football break has put a pause on domestic football, we had to look for something else.

And then we found it - cricket at Newlands!

I'll admit, I wasn't familiar with the Pro20 Cup currently taking place before doing some research - which is sad. I remember the days when you knew every domestic cricket match taking place at Newlands, with the ground packed with excited cricket fans. As a scholar season ticket holder, it was the stuff of dreams to see my heroes in action.

In 2026, the domestic cricket calendar suffers from bigger international tournaments and a packed Proteas schedule, meaning the star names we used to see playing for the provinces are unavailable for the local stuff.

Nevertheless, watching live cricket at Newlands is always fun, so I checked online for tickets.

Guys, it's R30 a ticket. R30! Going to watch a cricket match at Newlands costs the same as a 2l Coke.

Fearing that it may sell out, I quickly purchased the tickets in my favoured Railway Stand and told my sports-mad son that we were headed off for a day/night match at what I consider to be the most beautiful cricket ground in the world.

His excitement brought back so many memories - and that's what it's all about at the end of the day.

READ: Newlands gets a glow up!

Off on a Newlands adventure

The sad reality of a tournament without the big names quickly hit home when we arrived at the match.

Even at R30 a ticket, the stadium couldn't have been more than 10% full.

Another fun element of going to live sports is trying the stadium food, but given the poor attendance, only a few of the food outlets were open, with nothing available around the Railway or Presidents stands. The toilets weren't even open, and you had to walk around to the North Stand to find open ones. Not ideal at all.

Despite these issues, the cricket under the lights was a good watch. The match went all the way to the final over, with the Cobras pipping the CSA High Performance side by six wickets with two balls to spare.

Some big hits kept the crowd on their toes (there is a R2-million crowd catch competition for the tournament) and getting to see some of the country's next generation of cricketers was interesting - remember the name of Mogamat Adnaan Lagadien, who scored a century for the CSA side.

A highlight for the kids in attendance came after the match when the players availed themselves for a signing session. To say I had a happy chappy in the car on the way home would be an understatement (even if he didn't know all the players - a signature is a signature, right?).

All in all, for R30 a ticket, it was extremely good value for money.

More fixtures to come

If you are looking to head to Newlands for a match knowing now that it only costs R30 to enter, there are a few more fixtures to come in the Pro20.

The next match is this Tuesday, 6 October 2026, at 18h00, with the Cobras taking on the Eastern Storm, before returning to Newlands on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, to take on Boland, also at 18h00.

Should the Cobras make it out of the group stage, there could be another match or two in the knockout round, so keep your eyes on the fixtures.

You can book tickets for the matches here - it's definitely worth your R30.

Time Out Tip: Given the limited food options, book your seats in the North Stand or on the Oaks grass. I'd also take a picnic, as that way you can enjoy your favourite snacks without being at the mercy of what's available.

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