OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Two brilliant centuries by the Protea batting star, Tazmin Brits, enable the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers to record back-to-back victories against the Free State team at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein. These matches were played in the Cricket South Africa professional women’s challenge.
In the limited-over contest on Saturday Brits hit a splendid 136 (from 101 balls; 4x6; 16x4) to enable the Badgers to post a record score of 259 (all out). The seasoned campaigner, Haroline Rhodes added a valuable 69 from 94 balls (8x4).
Yolandi Potgieter (3/17) and Gizelle Janse van Rensburg (2/46) were the pick of the bowlers. In their run-chase, Potgieter scored a fine century smashing 102 runs from 123 balls, 1x6, 11x4) and received good support from Anika Swart (30) and Miane Smit (28) to reach 253/7; thus a victory of six runs for the Badgers. Two youngsters, Chantelle van Schoor (3/45) and Tabitha la Grange (3/47) bowled well under pressure to secure a Badgers victory.
Tabitha la Grange clubbing a lose delivery to the boundary.
T20 clash
In the T20 clash on Sunday, Brits scored (118*; 65 balls, 7x6, 12x4) and the 18-year-old la Grange (79; 55 balls, 1x6, 12x4) produced an unbeaten match-winning record opening stand of 207 runs as the Badgers finished at 207/0 in their allotted 20 overs.
The Free State was restricted to only 169/9 thanks to contributions from Elandri Janse van Rensburg (33), Anika Swart (46) who recorded a 38-run victory for the Badgers. Khayakazi Mathe (2/18) and Cheyenne de Villiers (2/22) each bagged two wickets.
Coach, Martelize van der Merwe, will be extremely satisfied with the performances of fringe players as the Badgers travelled to Bloemfontein without key players like Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Jané Winster and Askakhe Nyovane who are all on duty for the SA Emerging team who tours Zimbabwe. The versatile all-rounder, Miceala Andrews, was unavailable as she recovers from knee surgery.
The Badgers will now take a break and will start their preparations for their key home fixture against Western Province in Oudtshoorn on 10 February 2024.
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