Back-to-back victories for Badgers Colts

CRICKET NEWS - The Garden Route Badgers Colts had an outstanding weekend with victories in both the Cricket SA three- and one-day Colts competitions.

The Badgers hosted the Eastern Cape Iinyathi Colts at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on 7 and 8 February and produced fine cricket in both formats.

In the three-day match, the visitors from East London were dismissed for 185 in their first innings, with Enathi Khitshini bagging 4/55.

Thanks to a partnership of 133 for the sixth wicket between the 2024 SA Schools captain Benni Hansen and the 2025 SA Schools captain Khitshini, the Badgers declared their first innings on 321/8.

Hansen produced a fine century - 123* from 226 balls (3x6, 6x4) - and Khitshini made 62.

Through an impressive bowling display by Tyrece Karels (4/20) and Grant Esau (3/28), the Iinyathi were dismissed for 134 - a victory of an innings and two runs for the Badgers.

Thanks to half-centuries by Nathan Engelbrecht (64 from 90 balls; 1x6, 5x4) and Heath Richards (83 from 60 balls; 7x6, 7x4) in the limited-over match on Sunday, the Badgers Colts posted 283/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

The spin bowling duo of Reagon Rhode (4/9) and Khitshini (3/14) was in destructive form to dismiss the Iinyathi for only 123 for a big 160-run victory.

The summarised scorecards:

Three-day match

Eastern Cape Iinyathi - 1st innings 184 all out (Emihle Mgodi 67, Osthesona Mblukwa 30, Christiaan du Toit 29, Enathi Khitshini 4/55, Sintu Majiza 3/32, Liyabona Malife 2/31) and 2nd innings 134 all out (Alandile Mhletywa 37, Inga Mafanga 26, Tyrece Karelse 4/20, Grant Esau 3/28).

Garden Route Badgers - 1st innings 321/8 declared (Benni Hansen 123*, Enathi Khitshini 62, Liyabona Malife 31, Jonathan Bestern 28*, Pheko Moletsane 28, M Fourie 3/48, L Sizani 2/126, A Tongo 2/47).

Garden Route Badgers won with an innings and two runs.

One-day match

Garden Route Badgers 283/7 - 50 overs (Heath Richards 83*, Nathan Engelbrecht 64, Breyton Plaatjies 46, Tyrese Karelse 27, Liyabona Malife 22, T Totana 1/23, Andile Mhletywa 2/61).

Eastern Cape Iinyathi 123 all out - 30.1 overs (C du Toit 49, Reagon Rhode 4/9, Enathi Khitshini 3/14).

Garden Route Badgers won with 160 runs.

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