GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route Badgers face a crucial showdown against the YesPlay Cobras at Newlands tonight (Tuesday, 10 November), with a place in the semi-finals of the Yes Play Pro20 Cup potentially at stake.
The Oudtshoorn-based side heads into its final Super 8 fixture on the back of three consecutive victories, having strengthened its semi-final hopes with an impressive 19-run win over Dafabet Boland at Boland Park in Paarl on Saturday.
Captain Janneman Malan and his troops once again raised their game to overcome Dafabet Boland by 19 runs in their own backyard at Boland Park in Paarl.
It was an afternoon when the Badgers’ loyal and ever-growing fan base may have preferred to remain glued to their television screens rather than witness a one-sided affair, as the Springboks thrashed Italy 77-7 in Turin.
Former SWD cricketer Glenton Stuurman, captaining Boland, won the toss and elected to bowl first. After losing early wicket Yaseen Valli for just two, with the score at five, the Badgers recovered through a match-defining 96-run partnership between Malan and player of the match Slade van Staden.
Malan made 45 off 37, including two sixes and two fours, while Van Staden produced an impressive 77 off 51, striking three sixes and seven fours.
Leo Sadler (16 off 10 balls, including two fours) and Liam Alder (eight off four balls, including a six) then added a quickfire, unbeaten 24-run partnership off just 10 deliveries to help the Oudtshoorn-based visitors post a competitive 169/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Boland, faced with a challenging run chase, appeared well on course for victory at 102/2 in the 13th over. However, the dismissal of the dangerous Gavin Kaplan (42 off 34 balls, including one six and five fours) by the ever-reliable Reagon Rhode opened the door for the Badgers.
Gysbert Wege kept Boland’s hopes alive with a fighting 57 off 41 deliveries, including five fours and a six. However, his dismissal in the 18th over (17.2 overs), with Malan taking one of his three catches of the innings, proved a turning point as the Badgers tightened their grip on the match.
Boland eventually finished on 150/7, falling 19 runs short of the target.
Banele Cele, making a welcome return to the starting XI, claimed the Bowler of the Match award after taking 3/31 in his four overs. He received valuable support from Sadler (2/40 in four overs) and Rhode (2/17 in four overs).
Liyabona Malife also deserves special mention for his outstanding effort in the field.
The Badgers’ quest to pull off one of the biggest upsets in South African domestic cricket in recent years by reaching the semi-finals of the competition now rests on the outcome of their final Super 8 fixture against the Cobras at Newlands tonight, Tuesday 10 November.
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