The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers started 2025 on a high following an impressive 8 wicket victory against the Mpumalanga Rhino’s at Uplands College in White River the past weekend. With this victory the Badgers moved to the third position on the log and remain in contention for a place in the final of the Cricket South Africa Division 2 Four Day competition.

The Badgers are now in third place on the log – 63.44 points after five matches. The defending champions, the Northern Cape Heat is the log leaders – 81.72 points after five matches with the Tuskers in second place – 72.94 points after four matches.

The home side, after being put into bat by Yaseen Vallie who won the toss was bowled out for 226 in their first innings. Jarred Jardine (3/58) was the stand-out bowler for the Badgers. In reply the Badgers batted with a huge sense of responsibility and accumulated 388 for a healthy first innings lead of 162 and in the process gained batting bonus points. The captain, Yaseen Valli was the main contributor with a century (116 from 219 balls, 1×6, 8×4). He received good support from Keenan Vieira (93), George van Heerden (62*) and Kyle Jacobs (46). The 3rd wicket partnership between Valli and Vieira was 161 and the opening stand between Valli and Jacobs 93.
The Rhino’s were dismissed for 242 in their second innings with Yasser Cook offering resistance with an innings of 83. For the Badgers, spinner, Pheko Moletsane with career best figures of 5/23 in 12 overs was in great form with Lifa Ntanzi (2/36) who also displayed good support.
The Badgers only needed 19.3 overs to knock-off a modest target (84/2) to clinch victory before lunch on the final day.
The Badgers will now focus on their next match – a home fixture against the log leaders the Northern Cape Heat that will start on 30 January at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn.
The summarised score card is:
MPUMALANGA RHINO’S 1st innings 226 (Yasser Cook 47, Jurie Snyman 45, Benajmin van Niekerk 34, Zakir Kathrada 33, Jarred Jardine 3/58, Sintu Majiza 2/43, Lifa Ntanzi 2/53, Kelly Smuts 2/30) and 2nd innings 242 (Yasser Cook 83, Bejamin van Niekerk 60, Pheko Moletsane 5/23, Lifa Ntanzi 2/36)
GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 1st innings 388 (Yaseen Valli 116, Keenan Vieira 93, George van Heerden 62, Kyle Jacobs 46, Gareth Dukes 5/83, Muhammed Mayet 4/28) and 2nd innings 84/2 (Yaseen Valli 28*, Kyle Jacobs 28)
Garden Route Badgers won by 8 wickets