Garden Route Badgers disapoint against Easterns

CRICKET NEWS - In the One Day Cup match against the Eastern Storm earlier this season, the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers gave away a commanding position and went down against the visitors from Benoni.

The Storm emerged winners with 104 runs in the Cricket South Africa Division 2 Four Day competition match that was played at the Recreation Ground this weekend.

Easterns who won the toss and batted first were dismissed for 213. Shaylen Pillay top-scored with 89. For the Badgers Herschell America bagged 2/20, Thomas Kaber 4/69 and Pheko Moletsane 3/11.

The Badgers, thanks to a career-best 171 from 236 balls; 4x6, 23x4 by Blayde Capell, posted 325 (all out).

He received good support from Jean du Plessis (33) and Thomas Kaber (37). For the Storm Chad Classen (4/59), Tumelo Simelane (3/63) and Divan Pothumus (3/63) were the pick of the bowlers.

Easterns, with a first innings deficit of 112 were in trouble at 24/2 just after tea on the third day but Shaylin Pillay with an unbeaten 229* (344 balls, 2x6, 31x4) and Kabelo Sekhukune 110 added 237 runs in 281 minutes for the third wicket in a match-winning partnership.

Divan Posthumus (44) provided good support in a partnership of 119 for the 7^th wicket with Pillay. Sintu Majiza (2/71) and Thomas Kaber (3/140) worked very hard for their wickets.

With a steep target of 366 the Badgers never looked favourites, but Jhedli van Briesies displayed a gutsy knock to record his maiden first-class hundred – 105 not out. Capell, again provided good support with 71 as the Badgers were dismissed after tea on the final day for 261. Simelane bagged 4/109.

The Badgers will now focus on their next fixture against Limpopo in Polokwane from 20-23 December. An outright victory will be non-negotiable in the aspirations of the Badgers to win the Four-Day competition.

With a steep target of 366 the Badgers never looked favourites, but Jhedli van Briesies displayed a gutsy knock to record his maiden first-class hundred – 105 not out.