CRICKET NEWS - Two comprehensive victories - both by an innings - in their first two matches in the Cricket SA Division 2 Four-day Series has put the Garden Route Badgers in a commanding position.
At home, the Badgers wiped the Mpumalanga Rhinos out of their way with a victory by an innings and 12 runs at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn.
The Badgers, who won the toss, put the Rhinos into bat. Thanks to a five-wicket haul in debut by Zack Momberg (5/54), the visitors from Mbombela slumped from 199/3 to 264 all out.
A fine performance by the batting unit of the home side enabled the Badgers to score 510 all out in their first innings. Kyle Jacobs (122 from 160 balls; 17x4) and the captain, Yaseen Valli (110 from 225 balls; 9x4), both scored centuries, while Ruan Terblanche 89 (2x6, 10x4) and George van Heerden 79 (9x4) both missed out on century landmarks.
In their second innings, the Rhinos managed to score 234 (all out). Banele Cele (4/24) and Lian Alder (4/69) bagged four wickets each.
Eastern Storm, at 53.72 points after three matches, is the log leader, with the Badgers in second position at 49.10 points after only two matches. The Knights at 46.28 points, also after two matches, are third.
The Badgers will now shift their focus to white-ball cricket with the T20 series that will kick off against Limpopo Impala in Polokwane tomorrow, 25 October.
The summarised scorecard:
• Mpumalanga Rhinos: 1st innings, 264 all out (Benjamin van Niekerk 68, Yassar Cook 46, Karabo Mogotsi 44, Zack Momberg 5/54, Banele Cele 3/53) and 2nd innings, 234 all out (Gareth Dukes 84*, Benjamin van Niekerk 55, Liam Alder 4/69, Banele Cele 4/24, Sintu Majiza 2/28).
• Garden Route Badgers: 1st innings, 510 all out (Kyle Jacobs 122, Yaseen Valli 110, Ruan Terblanche 89, George van Heerden 79, Kurtlyn Mannikam 7/169).
The Garden Route Badgers won by an innings and 12 runs.
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