A classy and smart 77 from Slade van Staden preceded a skilled and disciplined bowling performance as the SWD Garden Route Badgers added another Division One scalp to their giant-killing collection with a 19-run victory against Dafabet Boland in their YesPlay Pro20 Cup match at Boland Stadium in Paarl on Saturday.
Van Staden scored his runs with panache and power and added 96 with his captain, Janneman Malan, who also adapted well to the traditionally slow and awkward batting surface as the Division Two visitors outplayed the home side – at their own game.
Van Staden collected seven fours and three sixes but was equally unfazed by the inevitable dot balls while Malan’s 45 from 37 balls contained just two fours and two sixes with SWD posting an above-par total of 169-5 before restricting their hosts to just 150-7.
Opening bowler Banele Cele finished with 3-31 but it was legspinner Reagon Rhode who did the greater damage collecting two wickets at a cost of just 17 run in his four overs, while SA Under-19 left-arm spinner Liam Alder conceded only 25 in his four overs.
The result means Boland missed their opportunity to move to the top of the log but remain in second place on 16 points from six matches, three behind the DP World Lions who play the YesPlay WP Cobras at Newlands on Saturday evening.
SWD, meanwhile, moved into the final qualifying place for the semifinals with 12 points, one ahead of the Cobras and will hope for a Lions victory in Cape Town in order to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
The Badgers have enjoyed a remarkable tournament having also beaten the mighty Momentum Multiply Titans earlier in the Super Eight phase.
DAFABET BOLAND: Gavin Kaplan, Blayde Capell (wkt), Gysbert Wege, Neil Brand, Fersico Adams, Jhedli van Briesies, Imran Manack, Glenton Stuurman (captain), Lizaad Williams, Akhona Mnyaka, Siyabonga Mahima
GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS: Yaseen Valli, Janneman Malan (captain), Slade Van Staden, Bennie Hansen (wkt), Andile Phehlukwayo, Leo Sadler, Liam Alder, Zack Momberg, Reagon Rhode, Banele Cele, Liyabona Malife.