Exciting women’s cricket
Only two matches are on the menu for this weekend’s Six Gun Grill SWD Women's league competition.
In the qualifying match to determine the second finalist for the Premier League final at the Recreation Ground on 30 March, last year’s finalist, Knysna Cavaliers, will take on Union Stars I at Loerie Park in Knysna.
In the Women’s Division 1 final on Saturday, Union Stars will defend their title against George.
Although Union Stars have won this title for eight successive seasons, George, who won a pool match between the two clubs this season, will see themselves as likely winners on Saturday. The final will start at 10:00. The fixtures for Saturday are: Premier League: qualifier
Knysna Cavaliers vs Union Stars I Women’s League: final
Union Stars vs George.
The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers on Tuesday, 12 March, suffered their third consecutive defeat in the Cricket South Africa Twenty20 competition.
The Badgers not only lost the plot after they were in a commanding position, but they also lost this vital encounter at home against the Eastern Storm by nine runs.
The Storm, who were put in to bat, were against the ropes at 99/6 in the 15th over, but a match-winning partnership of 73 between Shane Dadswell (38 from 21 balls; 2x6, 3x4) and Leander Lubbe (33* from 19 balls; 2x6, 3x4) took them to a defendable 172/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Kyle Jacobs, who only bowled two overs, was the pick of the bowlers with 2/10.
The Badgers lost wickets at regular intervals and not even a cameo performance by Heath Richards (44 from 22 balls; 2x6, 4x4) could save Jean du Plessis and his troops as they finish at 163/9 after 20 overs.
On Saturday, also with home ground advantage, they lost by two wickets with one ball to spare against the Eastern Cape IInyathi. The Badgers batted first to score a modest 148/9 in their allotted 20 overs. For the Iinyathi Jade de Klerk (3/14 in 20 overs) bowled excellently. In their run chase, the skipper Jason Niemand, played a captain's knock of 57 as the Iinyathi reached the target (149/8 after 19.5 overs).
The summarised score cards are:
Garden Route Badgers vs Eastern Storm EASTERN STORM 172/8 (Kabelo Sekhukune 35, Dewan Marais 29, Shade Dadswell 38, Leander Lubbe 39*, Kyle Jacobs 2/10)
GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 163/9 (Blayde Capell 31, Heath Richards 44, Thula Ncobo 2/39, Tulelo Simelane 2/33) Eastern Storm won by 9 runs.
Garden Route Badgers vs Eastern Cape Iinyathi
SWD GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 148/9 (20 overs) (Kyle Jacobs 24, Kelly Smuts 21, Thomas Kaber 20, Jade de Klerk 3/14, Phaphama Fojela 2/32) EASTERN CAPE IINYATHI 149/8 (19.5 overs) (Jason Niemand 57, Marco Marais 38, Jarred Jardine 2/20)
Eastern Cape Iinyathi won by 2 wickets.