The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers got their campaign in the Cricket South Africa Division 2 Four-day series of to a perfect start. Yaseen Valli and his troops produced a clinical performance with a comprehensive 148 runs victory against the Eastern Cape Iianaythi at Buffalo Park in East London.
After being put in to bat, the Badgers reached a solid 308 before they were bowled out just before stumps on the first day. Newly recruited wicketkeeper/batsman, Luke Beaufort, was the hero with his maiden first-class ton – an aggressive 112 from only 115 balls (1×6; 20×4). His partnership with Kelly Smuts 58 from 96 balls; 1×6, 8×4) of 120 runs for the 4th wicket was crucial in building the innings. The dangerous spin bowler, Jade de Klerk, bagged 5/84.
Thomas Kaber, the left-arm spin bowler with figures of 4/64, led the Badgers’ bowling attack as they dismissed the Iianyathi for 236 – a lead of 72.
In the Badgers’ second innings, de Klerk (5/85) was again impressive for a ten-wicket in the match haul, but the Badgers managed to reach 224 with Tyrece Karelse with a top score of 48.
Being set a target of 297 the home side never seems in control of the run chase and finish day three at 104/4. In the final morning, Kaber (4/40 in 13 overs) and Liyabona Malife (4/12 in 7.1 overs) caused serious headaches for the Iianyathi batsmen who could only add 40 runs to their overnight total. They were dismissed, before lunch on the final day for 148, as the Badgers banked 24.16 match points to take the early lead in the competition.
The summarised scorecard is:
GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 1ST innings 308 (Kyle Jacobs 30, Kelly Smuts 58, Luke Beaufort 112, Nico van Zyl 2/57, Tladi Bokako 2/56, Jade de Klerk 5/94) and 2nd innings 224 (Yaseen Vallie 34, Tyrece Karelse 48, Thomas Kaber 31, Chad Claassen 3/23, de Klerk 5/85) EASTERN CAPE IIANYATHI 1ST innings 236 (Jerome Bossr 47, Nathan Roux 35, Christopher Gleaves 35, Khwezi Gumede 2/52, Thomas Kaber 4/64) and 2nd innings 148 (Nathan Roux 28, Marco Marais 27, Sintu Majiza 2/27, Kaber 4/40, Liyabona Malife 4/12) Garden Route Badgers won by 148 runs
