THE ambition of the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers to win the Cricket South Africa Division 2 Four-Day competition was ruined when they suffered a nine wicket defeat against the Northern Cape Heat on Tuesday. For the Badgers, this was a must-win encounter, but they have now slipped to the 5th spot on the table and is out of the run.
The Badgers, who won the toss and opted to bat first posted 318 thanks to a maiden first class century by Pheko Moletsane – batting at number 7. Moletsane posted an unbeaten 120 from 157 balls and hit 4x6s and 10x4s. Blayde Capell scored 62, Keenan Vieira 47 and Jhedli van Briesies 33. For the Heat Grant Thomson (2/36), Johan van Dyk (3/54), Jerome Xaba (2/33) and Ernst Kemm (2/66) were the top wicket-takers.
Northern Cape, thanks to an opening stand of 182 between Ernst Kemm (71) and Jason Oakes (105) scored a massive 520. Grant Thomson (115) also scored a century while Hanu Viljoen added a vital 80. For the Badgers Marcello Piedt (2/79), Khwezi Gumede (3/79) and Pheko Moletsana (2/114) were the pick of the bowlers after they spent 152 overs in the field.
With a deficit of 242 the Badgers never got their innings going and was at 79/5 but a century by Jhedli van Briesies (122*; 2×6, 14×4) allow them to reach 260 (all out). Van Dyk (3/33), Tsepo Ntuli (4/89) and Romano Terblanche (2/33) did the damage with the ball.
The Heat (61/1) reached the target at the stroke of teatime on the final day for a 9 wicket victory.
End of the road for Garden Route Badgers
Pheko Moletsane from the Badgers that scored 120 runs from 157 balls. Photo: Supplied