CRICKET NEWS - Following a nail-biting one-run wicket victory against the Eastern Cape Linyathi in East London last Thursday, 28 September, the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers let themselves down on Sunday 1 October against the SA Emerging XI.
The Badgers produced a disappointing performance against the SA Emerging when they lost by seven wickets.
The Badgers, the defending champions, have now dropped to the third place on the log and their performance in their two remaining fixtures - against the Eastern Storm in Benoni on 4 October and against the Northern Cape Heat on 12 October - will determine their fate.
They need to win both these matches to play in the final.
Thursday's game was a Cricket South Africa Division 2 One Day Cup match that took place at Buffalo Park.
Putting into bat in favourable bowling conditions, the Badgers were in trouble at 59/3 after 15 overs but Hanno Kotzé - top-scoring with 74 (from 110 balls; 7x4) and Jhedli van Briesies (30 from 56 balls; 2x4) steered the innings forward before Kelly Smuts hit 46 from only 35 balls (1x6, 3x4) to take the Badgers to a respectable 234/9 in their allotted 50 overs.
The match was always in the balance as the home side threatened to took control but impressive bowling spells by Marcello Piedt (2/39), Kwezi Gumede (2/45), Thomas Kaber (2/46) and Kelly Smuts (2/46) restricted the Linyathi to 233/8. The dangerous Marco Marais - who scored 86 from 101 balls; 5x6, 7x4 - received good support from Jason Niemand - 50 (from 103 balls; 3x4). Jade de Klerk scored 38 at the end.
In Sunday's match in Oudtshoorn the Badgers, who batted first, had a good start but collapsed from 98/2 (22nd over) and were dismissed for a modest 150.
Ruan Terblanche scored 32, Matthew Christensen 31 and Jhedli van Briesies 29. Junaid Dawood was the main destroyer with figures of 4/27 (in 10 overs). Tristan Lees bagged 3/31.
The SA Emerging XI only needed 25,4 overs to surpass the target for a bonus point victory. Modire Litheko scored an unbeaten 65*.
The Badgers team for the clash against the Eastern Storm on Wednesday 4 October is: Ruan Terblanche, Matthew Christensen, Tyrece Karelse, Jean du Plessis, Jhedli van Briesies, Kelly Smuts, Thomas Kaber, Jarred Jardine, Liabona Malife, Khwezi Gumede and Sintu Majiza.
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