The first matches were scheduled to start on 7 January 2021, however the start of the season was delayed until February due to the pandemic.[4] Initially the tournament was to be played between the fifteen South African provincial teams, split into two groups.[1] However, after the tournament restarted in February 2021, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed that the South Africa under-19 cricket team would also be included in the competition.[5][6] CSA issued a revised schedule for the tournament, with all the matches being held in a bio-secure environment.[7] Matches involving either Limpopo, Mpumalanga or the South Africa under-19 team did not have first-class status.[8]
In March 2021, Border were dismissed for just sixteen runs in their second innings, equalling the lowest team total in first-class cricket in South Africa.[9][10] In the South Africa under-19's first match, the team were bowled out for 41 runs in their first innings, before going on to lose the match by an innings and 83 runs.[11]
