CRICKET NEWS - The Garden Route Badgers women recorded their first victory in this season’s Hollywoodbets Pro20 series with a thrilling 12-run victory against the Fidelity Titans at SuperSport Park in Pretoria on Friday 21 November.

The Badgers, who batted first, posted 144/6, with Annerie Dercksen (51 from 43 balls) and Nadine Moodley (45 from 42 balls) the top contributors. 

Thanks to a disciplined bowling and fine fielding display, the Badgers fought hard and restricted the Titans to 136/6 in their allotted 20 overs. 

Miane Smit (34), Pura Andeoa (32) and Anneke Bosch (26) were the top run scorers for the home side. Izel Cilliers held on to a brilliant catch to get rid of the dangerous Miane Smit.

In the Pro50 competition, the Badgers were the log leaders before they disappointingly went down against the Titans on Saturday. The Badgers, thanks to a brilliant century by Dercksen (113 from 113 balls; 4x6, 9x4)) and Julia Hoal (87 from 83 balls; 2x6, 12x4), posted a new record total at SuperSport Park - 280 all out.

 Eliz-Mari Marx (2/36), Masabata Klaas (2/54) and Samantha Schutte (2/36) bagged two wickets each.

The Badgers smelt early blood, and with the Titans’ score at 27/3, the visitors were in control, but dropped catches allowed Suné Luus (101* not out from 109 balls - 1x6, 9x4) and Bosch (81* not out; 78 balls, 1x6 and 9x4) to build an unbeaten partnership of 169 runs for the third wicket before inclement weather brought an early end to the match with the Titans at 196/3 after 35 overs. 

This enabled the Titans to win by 30 runs, according to the DLS formula.

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