Heartbreaking loss for Badgers February 5, 2025 southcapenetGarden Route News The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers suffered a heartbreaking four-wicket defeat against the Northern Cape Heat in a vital Cricket South Africa Four Day encounter that was played at Oudtshoorn the past weekend.  With this defeat, the Badgers will have a tall order to reach the Four-Day final.

The Badgers who won the toss and opted to bat under ideal conditions posted 341 with half centuries by Yaseen Valie (75), George van Heerden (70), Luke Beaufort (66) and Kelly Smuts (58) the stand-out performances.  The Heat responded with 370 for a vital lead of 29 runs.

In their second innings the Badgers were dismissed for 201 with van Heerden (47) the top scorer.  With a target of 175 in only 30 overs the Heat took control of proceedings and reached the winning target with one over to spare and four wickets in hand.

The summarized score card is:

GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS 1st innings 341 (Yaseen Vallie 75, George van Heerden 70, Luke Beaufort 66, Kelly Smuts 58, Ernst Kemm 4/63, Benjamin van Rensburg 2/44) and 2nd innings 201 (Kyle Jacobs 40, George van Heerden 47, Pheko Moletsane 34, Tshepo Ntuli 3/34, Ernst Kemm 2/53, Benjamin van Rensburg 2/31, Ruan Haasbroek 2/7)

NORTHERN CAPE HEAT 1st innings 370 (Ernst Kemm 90, Tiaan Koekemoer 73, Modire Litheko 52, Ruan Haasbroek 42, Kyle Jacobs 3/52, Sintu Majiza 3/59, Pheko Moletsane 2/63, Reagon Rhode 2/75) and 2nd innings 175/6 (Ruan Haasbroek 44*, Ernst Kemm 37, Modiri Litheko 33, Ronan Hermann 31, Pheko Moletsane 3/16, Kyle Jacobs 2/50) 

Northern Cape Heat won by 4 wickets