Badgers remain winless in T20 series

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CRICKET NEWS - The woes of the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers in the Cricket South Africa Twenty20 competition continues. The Badgers are still winless after four matches in the series and finds itself bottom of the log.

The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers, on Tuesday, suffered their third consecutive defeat.

The Badgers not only lost the plot after they were in a commanding position but they also lost this vital encounter at home against the Eastern Storm by 9 runs.

Eastern Storm, who were put in to bat, were against the ropes at 99/6 in the 15th over but a match-winning partnership of 73 between Shane Dadswell (38 from 21 balls; 2x6, 3x4) and Leander Lubbe (33* from 19 balls; 2x6, 3x4) took them to a defendable 172/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Kyle Jacobs, who only bowled two overs, was the pick of the bowlers with 2/10.

PHOTO GALLERY: Third defeat for Badgers

The Badgers lost wickets at regular intervals and not even a cameo by Heath Richards (44 from 22 balls; 2x6, 4x4) could save Jean du Plessis and his troops as they finished at 163/9 after 20 overs.

On Saturday, also with home ground advantage, they lost by two wickets with one ball to spare against Eastern Cape IIanyathi. Badgers, who batted first, scored a modest 148/9 in their allotted 20 overs. For the Iianyathi Jade de Klerk (3/14 in 20 overs) gave an excellent bowling performance.

In their run chase, skipper Jason Niemand played a captains knock of 57 as the Iianyathi reached the target (149/8 after 19,5 overs).

Khwezi Gumede (right)

The summarised score cards are:

Garden Route Badgers vs Eastern Storm

EASTERN STORM 172/8 (Kabelo Sekhukune 35, Dewan Marais 29, Shade Dadswell 38, Leander Lubbe 39*, Kyle Jacobs 2/10) GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 163/9 (Blayde Capell 31, Heath Richards 44, Thula Ncobo 2/39, Tulelo Simelane 2/33)

Eastern Storm won by 9 runs.

Garden Route Badgers vs Eastern Cape Iinyathi

SWD GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 148/9 (20 overs) (Kyle Jacobs 24, Kelly Smuts 21, Thomas Kaber 20, Jade de Klerk 3/14, Phaphama Fojela 2/32)

EASTERN CAPE IINYATHI 149/8 (19.5 overs) (Jason Niemand 57, Marco Marais 38, Jarred Jardine 2/20)

Eastern Cape Iinyathi won by 2 wickets.

Marcello Piedt