THE Garden Route Badgers, based in Oudtshoorn, made history this past weekend at the Six Gun Grill Recreation Ground in the Klein Karoo town by scoring the highest amount of runs ever in a 4-day game!
What made this Cricket South Africa Division 2 Four-Day test match against the Limpopo Impala’s even more historic, is the unbeaten 336 run partnership for the sixth wicket between the captain Onke Nyaku 201* (352 balls, 6×6, 14×4) and Sean Whitehead 155* (271 balls, 3×6, 10×4), which paved the way for a victory by an innings and 106 runs against the Limpopo competitors.
This feat, which took Nyaku and Whitehead 301 minutes to achieve, is the highest partnership for any wicket scored by a Badger, past (as SWD) and present.
The previous record for the highest partnership in first class cricket, according to Badgers CEO Albertus Kennedy, was held by Obus Pienaar and Hanno Kotze – 257* for the 5th wicket in the 2017/18 season.
Piet Botha, head coach of the Badgers, said the hard work the team has put in so far this season during practice was a big contributing factor in their win.
“We have worked on conditioning, focus and stamina throughout, and this definitely helped with the team’s overall performance.
“The bowling attack was great, as well as the batting performance, and it really was a team effort that ensured the win,” he told Die Hoorn.
The Badgers batted for a total of 178,1 overs as they posted their highest ever first class innings total – 611/5 (declared) bettering the previous highest first class score (601/8 vs Northerns in Pretoria; 2013/14).
Nyaku and Whitehead received support from Blayde Capell (126), Jhedli van Briesies (40), André Malan (33) and Hanno Kotze (37).
According to Botha the bowling attack, for which he picked three spin bowlers suited to Oudtshoorn’s wicket, kept the Impalas at bay, supported by the seam bowlers.
After the Impalas chose to bat first and scored 274 all out, Botha says he wanted the Badgers to aim for 350. “When we got to 350 it was obvious that we were in a good position to get more runs.
On day 2 we didn’t even lose a wicket at all, and Blade did well as opening batter. Nyaku and Whitehead got their partnership going and it was an unbelievable effort!” Botha said.
With an incredible lead of 337 runs the visitors lasted 88,1 overs before they were dismissed for 231. Whitehead (4/79) was the pick of the bowlers, supported by André Malan, Nyaku and Sitembile Langa throughout both innings. (Deur Stefan Skapie Goosen)
Highest partnership in SWD cricket history!
Sean Whitehead (155*, left) and Onke Nyaku (201*) who posted the highest partnership in the history of the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers; an unbeaten 336 runs in 301 minutes for the sixth wicket. Photo supplied