Badgers take match with record partnership
The highest partnership in the history of the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers – an unbeaten 336 (301 minutes) for the sixth wicket between the captain Onke Nyaku 201* (352 balls, 6x6, 14x4) and Sean Whitehead 155* (271 balls, 3x6, 10x4) , paved the way for a victory by an innings and 106 runs against Impala Limpopo in a Cricket South Africa Division 2 Four-Day match that was played at the Six Gun Grill Recreation Ground the past weekend.
The previous record for the highest partnership in first-class cricket was held by Obus Pienaar and Hanno Kotze – 257* for the 5th wicket between Hanno Kotze and Obus Pienaar (vs Border at Oudtshoorn; 2017/18 season).
The visitors, who won the toss, posted 274 (all out) after they recovered from 126/6 thanks to a century by Lauren Steenkamp (136; 188 balls, 2x6, 19x4). André Malan (3/41) and Sean Whitehead (3/58) both bagged three wickets each.
The Badgers batted for 178.1 overs as they posted their highest ever first-class innings total - 611/5 (declared) eclipsing 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).
With a massive lead of 337, the visitors lasted 88.1 overs before they were dismissed for 231. Ruan Haasbroek (63) and Lauren Steenkamp replied with half-centuries. Whitehead (4/79) was the pick of the bowlers.
The summarised scorecard is:
LIMPOPO IMPALA 1st innings 274 – all out (Lauren Steenkamp 136, Ntokoza Mhlaba 38, André Malan 3/41, Sean Whitehead 3/58, Onke Nyaku 2/44) and 2nd innings 231 – all out (Ruan Haasbroek 63, Lauren Steenkamp 53, Marcello Piedt 2/49, Sean Whitehead 4/79, Pheko Moletsane 2/41)
GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 611/5 – declared (Blayde Capell 126, Onke Nyaku 201*, Sean Whitehead 155*, Sitembile Langa 2/66)
Garden Route Badgers won by an innings and 106 runs.