GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - In their final match of 2023, the Garden Route Badgers fell just three runs shy of what would have been a brilliant win against the Limpopo Impalas in the CSA Division 2 Four-day Competition.
The match was played at Polokwane Cricket Club between 20 and 23 December and ended in a draw.
Impalas, who were sent in to bat first, amassed 475 in their first innings thanks to centuries by Lauren Steenkamp (106) and Ruan Haasbroek (144). Both Thomas Kaber (3/21) and Pheko Moletsane (3/59) claimed three wickets for the Badgers.
Thanks to an unbeaten century by their in-form batsman and captain, Jean du Plessis (156*), the Badgers posted 369 and still trailed by 106 runs.
Blayde Capell contributed 66 while Eldrid Hawken (4/68) and Haasbroek (3/73) were the pick of the bowlers for the home team.
In their second innings Limpopo declared their innings at 224/7 after Haasbroek (83) again excelled with the bat.
The best bowler from the Badgers was Khwezi Gumede (3/51). With a target of 331 in 81 overs the Badgers showed great fight but fell just short, being held to 328/6 – only three runs short of a remarkable victory.
Jhedli van Briesies (93*) was the leader of the pack but he received good support from Matthew Christensen (51), Keenan Vieira (70), Kelly Smuts (35) and Pheko Moletsane (31*). Hawken (3/93) was again impressive with the ball.
Limpopo collected 14,9 bonus points and the Badgers 12,82. The Badgers enter the new year in fourth position on the log. The Knights lie top, followed by the Impalas and then the Eastern Storm.
Jean du Plessis is the top runs scorer in the competition with 493 runs at an average of 123,25 while his team mate, Thomas Kaber (21 wickets) at an average of 24,95 is the top wicket taker.
The Badgers will face Northern Cape Heat in their next fixture at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn – starting on Saturday 13 January. As the scenario currently stands and outright victory for the Badgers is non-negotiable.
