The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers women’s team has claimed a narrow two wicket bonus point victory against the Fidelity Titans in their own back yard at Supersport Park in Pretoria on Saturday.
In a low-scoring contest the Badgers, thanks to a match winning unbeaten knock of 46 (53 balls; 1×6, 7×4) from Julia Hoal – batting at number seven – held their nerves to ensure five valuable league points.
The Titans, who were put into bat, never got their innings going and it was only their Protea star – Masabatha Klaas who posted 39 who made a meaningful contribution with the bat as the home side was dismissed in the 29th over for 131. The skipper, Jané Winster (4/19 in 7.3 overs), produced one of her best bowling performances in the Badgers shirt. Her team mate for many years Miceala Andrews, who returned from injury provided valuable support with figures of 2/13 (in 7 overs).
In their pursuit for a modest target the Badgers early lost their Protea batters – Tazmin Brits, Mieke de Ridder and Annerie Dercksen – and with their score at 45/5 their hopes to their maiden victory at Supersport Park look gloomy. It was however Asakhe Nyovane with a brisk 23 from only 18 balls (5×4’s) and the versatile Andrews (17 from 33 balls) who turned the ship around with a match winning partnership of 66 runs for the 6th wicket. Hoal was still at the crease when the Badgers surpassed the total in the 29th over. For the Titans, Klaas (2/38) and Monalisa Legodi (2/23) both bagged two wickets each.
The T20 match will be played tomorrow.
