Garden Route Badgers Leapfrogged to top of the table

OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The Garden Route Badgers has leapfrogged to the top of the table in the Cricket South Africa Division 2 Four-day competition following an impressive 9 wicket victory against the Eastern Cape Iianyathi at the REC Cricket Stadium in Oudtshoorn on Sunday 21 December.

Yaseen Valli and his troops collect 24.28 bonus points and are now at 73.38 points as they reach the half-way stage of the pool stages with three outright victories in three matches.

The Eastern Storm are second at 65.62 (after four matches) followed by the Knights at 65.62 points after three matches.

The Badgers, after winning the toss, reached 423 with the former SA U.19 opening batsman, Ruan Terblanche who contributed a career best 161 (from 290 balls; 2x6, 17x4). Terblanche and the skipper Yaseen Valli (41) contributed 109 runs for the first wicket.

George van Heerden (67) continued his fine form whilst Zack Momberg (58) and Jade Richter set up a new Garden Route Badgers first class record partnership of 97 for the ninth wicket, breaking the record of Wessel Hartslief and Nathan Murray (89 vs Boland in the 2008/09 season).

The Iianyathi were dismissed for only 154 in their first innings with Jade Richter (4/51), Banele Cele (3/34) and Liam Alder (3/25) the bowling heroes for the home side.

With a deficit of 269 the Badgers have enforced the follow-on. The visitors from East London have produced a much improved batting performance when they responded with 308 (all out).

Liam Alder, who bowled a marathon 48.2 overs, bagged 5/93. With a modest target, the Badgers finished the match at 40/1 to win by 9 wickets with two sessions to spare in the match.

Although the Badgers will have a well earned holiday break they will return to action from 8-11 January when they take on the Northern Cape Heat in Kimberley.

The summarized score card is:

Garden Route Badgers: 1st innings 423 (Ruan Terblanche 161, George van Heerden 67, Zack Momberg 58, Jade Richter 46, Yaseen Valli 41, Nico van Zyl 3/50, Hardus Coetzer 2/41, Kguadsi Molefi 2/37, Matthew Fourie 2/42) and 2nd innings 40/1 (Yaseen Valli 23*).

Eastern Cape Iianyathi: 154 (Wian Ruthven 56, Matthew Fourie 44*, Jade Richter 4/51, Banele Cele 3/34, Liam Alder 3/26) and 2nd innings 308 (Nathan Roux 53, Lihle Sizani 50, Hardus Coetzer 54, Liam Alder 5/93) Garden Route Badgers won by 9 wickets.

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