GEORGE NEWS - The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers had an uphill battle for their first two fixtures in the Cricket South Africa Division 2 Twenty/20 challenge and now need to win their next two matches to remain in contention for the semi-finals.

After their first match against the Mpumalanga Rhinos – scheduled to be played at White River on 21 September – was abandoned due to rain, they suffered back-to-back defeats in their next two matches.

In the match against Easterns at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on 24 September, the Badgers had a sound start and posted an opening partnership of 70 between the captain, Yaseen Vallie (58 from 43 balls; 2x6, 5x4), and Keenan Vieira (50 from 38 balls; 1x6, 7x4) but the visitors lost momentum in their middle order and ended on 164/4 despite a blistering 39 (24 balls; 2x6, 4x4) by Heath Richards.

Thanks to a match-winning opening stand of 133 runs between Kabelo Sekhukhune (84 from 55 balls; 4x6, 9x4) and Christopher Brits (35 from 25 balls; 3x4), Eastern Storm reached the target (167/7) after 18.3 overs for a three-wicket victory. Thomas Kaber bagged 3/26.

In their home fixture against the defending champions, Limpopo Impala, at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Saturday, the Badgers had a 72-runs opening partnership between Vieira (58 from 40 balls; 1x6, 9x4) and Kyle Jacobs (33 from 31 balls; 1x6, 9x4).

The middle order again struggled to convert a good start into a winning target and the home side was restricted to a mediocre 146/8. 

Eldred Hawken (3/18 in 4 overs) and Don Radebe (3/17 in 4 overs) both bowled magnificent spells for the Impalas. Limpopo Impala cruised to a comfortable bonus point victory when they reached the winning target (150/4 after 15.5 overs). 

Morné Venter (64), Liam Peters (20) and Louren Steenkamp (36*) all made impressive contributions whilst Kaber (2/34) was the Badgers' most successful bowler.

The Badgers are confronted with various injuries, but they need to record victories in their next two matches to remain in contention for a place in the semi-finals.

Yesterday, 2 October, they hosted the undefeated Tuskers at the Recreation Ground. At the time of going to print, the results were not yet available. 

On Saturday 5 October they will take on the Eastern Cape Iianyathi in East London.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’