The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers had an uphill battle for their first two fixtures in the Cricket South Africa Division 2 Twenty/20 challenge. After their first match against the Mpumalanga Rhino’s – scheduled to be played at White River on 21 September, was abandoned due to rain they suffered back-to-back defeats in their next two matches.
In the match against Easterns at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on 24 September the Badgers had a sound start and posted an opening partnership of 70 between the captain Yaseen Vallie (58 from 43 balls; 2×6, 5×4)) and Keenan Vieira (50 from 38 balls; 1×6, 7×4) but the visitors lost momentum in their middle order and ended on 164/4 despite a blistering 39 (24 balls; 2×6, 4×4) by Heath Richards.
Thanks to a match winning opening stand of 133 runs between Kabelo Sekhukhune (84 from 55 balls; 4×6, 9×4) and Christopher Brits (35 from 25 balls; 3×4) the Eastern Storm reached the target (167/7) after 18.3 overs for a 3 wicket victory. Thomas Kaber bagged 3/26.
In their home fixture against the defending champions – Limpopo Impala at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Saturday the Badgers again had fifty runs opening partnership – 72 runs – between Vieira (58 from 40 balls; 1×6, 9×4) and Kyle Jacobs (33 from 31 balls; 1×6, 9×4). The middle order again struggles to convert a good start into a winning target and the home side was restricted to a mediocre 146/8. Eldred Hawken (3/18 in 4 overs) Don Radebe (3/17 in 4 overs) both bowled magnificent spells for the Impalas. Limpopo Impala cruised to a comfortable bonus point victory when they reached the winning target (150/4 after 15.5 overs). Morné Venter (64), Liam Peters (20) and Louren Steenkamp (36*) all made impressive contributions whilst Kaber 2/34 was the Badgers most successful bowler.
The Badgers are confronted with various injuries, but they need to record victories in their next two matches to remain in contention for a place in the semi-finals. On Wednesday, 2nd of October, they will host the undefeated Tuskers at the Recreation Ground and on Saturday (5th of October) they will take on the Eastern Cape Iianyathi in East London.
