A brilliant third-wicket partnership of 195 runs between Blayde Capell and the captain Jean du Plessis steered the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers to a 30-run victory against the Northern Cape Heat at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Thursday.
The Badgers has ended their campaign for this competition on a high but finish forth on the log although they will not reach the final to defend their title. The Knights, SA Emerging XI and Easterns finish ahead of the Badgers.
Capell was in sublime form and hit 127 (from 117 balls; 1×6, 15×4) whilst du Plessis scored a classic century – 112 (from 107 balls; 14×4) to enable the Badgers to reach a record innings total of 344/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Kelly Smuts made 23 (from 16 balls) and Jarred Jardine 22 (from 11 balls). Basheer Walters (3/84 in 10 overs) and Johan van Dyk (3/50 in 10 overs) each bagged three wickets.
The innings total of 344/9 is Garden Route Badgers’ highest one-day total, beating 309-6 vs Eastern Province at Oudtshoorn in 2012, and the 195 run 3rd wicket partnership between Capell and du Plessis is also a record for the team, beating 145* by Niel Hornbuckle and Andrea Agathangelou vs Namibia at Oudtshoorn in 2017.
The Northern Cape Heat with Grant Thomson (46 from 52 balls; 6×4), Ernest Kemm (41 from 52 balls; 6×4) and Jason Oakes (99 from 95 balls; 3×6, 6×4) fought bravely but the men from Kimberley was restricted to 314/9 after 50 overs. Marcello Piedt (3/67 in 10 overs) and Jarred Jardine (3/56 in 10 overs) were the pick of the bowlers for the Badgers.
