Garden Route Badgers thump Knights in clinical run chase

CRICKET NEWS -

The Garden Route Badgers have bounced back to keep their chances for a place in the knockout stages of the Cricket South Africa Division 2 One Day Cup alive with a seven-wicket bonus-point victory against the Flexbrand Knights at Oudtshoorn on Thursday 5 March.

The Knights, who arrived in Oudtshoorn as the undefeated log leaders, won the toss and opted to bat first.

Many of their dangerous batsmen got promising starts but tight bowling by the home side prevented them from posting big scores.

The Knights ended at 250/7 in their allotted 50 overs with Jacques Snyman (46), who was part of an opening stand of 82, and Ruan Haasbroek (41) their top run scorers. Sintu Majiza (3/53) was the stand-out bowler for the Badgers.

The Badgers’ run chase was led by openers Ruan Terblanche and Yaseen Valli who set up an opening partnership of 221 - breaking the all-time List A record of 175 which they set up 10 days earlier against the Northern Cape Heat in the same competition.

Terblanche was in sublime form, posting 133 from 112 balls (7x6, 7x4). He received great support from Valli, who made 93 from 106 balls (2x6, 8x4).

The Badgers have surpassed the target after 39.2 overs and in the process secured a vital bonus point for reaching the target within 40 overs.

The Badgers will now travel to East London to take on the Eastern Cape Iinyathi at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday 9 March where they will need to record a victory to stay in contention for silverware.