Despite playing some very good cricket at stages – the Garden Route Badgers women suffered defeats in both the Pro 50 and Pro 20 matches against the DP World Lions in the Hollywoodbets Pro series. Zintle Kula and her team will be very disappointed and need to go back to the drawing board to get in the winning mode again after home defeats.
In the Pro50 match the Badgers struck early and with the Lions score at 33/4 they were with their backs against the wall but Sunette Viljoen-Louw – an Olympic silver medal winner in the javelin at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro – scored an unbeaten match winning 74* (from 100 balls; 7×4) to enable the visitors to 171 (all out). Kula (2/23), Nicolien Janse van Rensburg (2/39) and Kiara Fisher (2/32).
The Badgers lost quick early wickets, and their run chase was hampered with some unexpected rain whereafter the target was adjusted to 132 from 22 overs. They ended on 93/7 – a defeat by 38 runs according to DLS with only Kiara Fisher (25*; 23 balls, 1×6, 1×4) that impressed with the bat.
In the Pro20 match on Sunday, the Badgers bowlers and fielders were clinical to restrict the Lions to 109/7. Kula (2/11) and Fisher (2/22) were the pick of the bowlers whilst Diana Ramlakan scored 28. Despite contributions from Izel Cilliers (40*), Julia Hoal (30) and Nadine Moodley (20) the Badgers ended on 103/7 – a defeat by 6 runs.
The summarized score cards are:
PRO 50 match
LIONS 171 all out – 46.5 overs (Sunette Viljoen-Louw 74*, Zintle Kula 2/23, Nicolien Janse van Rensburg 2/39, Kiara Fisher 2/32) GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 93/7 – 22 overs (Kiara Fisher 25*, Relebohile Mkhize 2/24, Raisibe Ntozakhe 2/14, Sarah Nettleton 2/22) Lions won by 38 runs DLS formula
PRO 20 match
LIONS 109/7 – 20 overs (Diara Ramlakan 28, Sunette Viljoen-Louw 20, Zintle Kula 2/11, Kiara Fisher 2/22) GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 103/7 – 20 overs (Izelle Cilliers 40*, Julia Hoal 30, Nadine Moodley 20, Fay Cowling 2/14) Lions won by 6 runs
