Rain rescues Badgers

CRICKET NEWS - Rain, which prevented any play on the final day on Sunday, rescued the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers from an outright defeat against the Northern Cape Heat in a Cricket South Africa Division 2 four-day match.

It was played at the Six Gun Grill Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn.

The Badgers were in deep trouble at 132/6 in their second innings, still needing another 282 runs for victory on the morning of the final day, when continuous rain had the final say.

The Heat, who won the toss, posted 274 (all out) in their first innings. Thanks to a 10th wicket partnership of 45 between Marcello Piedt (32) and Basheer Walters (21*), the Badgers avoided the follow-on by one run, but were still 149 runs behind the Heat.

The Heat declared their second innings at 265/5 – setting the Badgers a target of 415. The Heat has completed its fixtures for the 2022/23 season and is a strong favourite to successfully defend its title as the four-day champion.

The Badgers will host the Tuskers at the Recreation Ground this weekend in their last pool fixture for the season.

The summarised score card is:

Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers vs Northern Cape

NORTHERN CAPE 1st innings 274 all out (110.4 overs) (Kelly Smuts 78, Grant Thompson 51, Romano Terblanche 47*, Ernest Kemm 27, Sean Whitehead 3/91, Basheer Walters 2/34)

SIX GUN GRILL GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 1st Innings 125 all out (51.2 overs) (Matthew Christensen 44, Marcello Piedt 32, Basheer Walters 21*, Benjamin van Rensburg 4/22, Ernest Kemm 4/30)

NORTHERN CAPE 2nd innings 256/5 declare (85 overs) (Victor Mahlagu 69, Rivaldo Moonsamy 52, Hanu Viljoen 32*, Ernest Kemm 30, Kelly Smuts 29*, Grant Thompson 27, Pheko Moletsane 3/91)

SIX GUN GRILL GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 2nd Innings 132/6 (49 overs) (Onke Nyaku 37*, Blayde Capell 35, Tshepo Nyuli 4/64, Ernest Kemm 2/49)

Match Drawn.

Basheer Walters took two wickets for 34 runs.