Janneman Malan led from the front, scoring a brilliant half-century to steer the Garden Route Badgers to a six-wicket win over Eastern Storm in their YesPlay Pro20 Cup Super 8 clash at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Saturday afternoon.
The toss went Eastern Storm's way, and the visitors opted to bat first. The men from Gauteng lost wickets at regular intervals on their way to 144 for seven in 20 overs. The Badgers needed only 19 overs to reach 149 for four and claim victory.
Malan struck 10 fours for his 57-ball 75. The former Proteas star put the hosts on the front foot with an 88-run opening partnership with Yaseen Valli. The pair laid a solid platform for the Badgers to launch from by ensuring that they did not lose early wickets. Their stand helped them withstand the adverse effects of a collapse that saw them lose Valli, Modise Maloka and Andile Phehlukwayo in 4.5 overs.
Unfortunately, Malan couldn't see his side over the finishing line. He was dismissed in the 19th over. The Badgers needed 13 runs from just over an over and a half when he was dislodged. Liam Alder (18*) stepped up and hit two sixes and a single four from four deliveries to steer them to victory.
SADLER EXCELS WITH THE BALL
Earlier in the afternoon, Leo Sadler claimed three wickets for 16 runs in four overs to help restrict Eastern Storm to a score below par. He had support from Regan Rhode, who captured a brace of wickets, while Zack Momberg and Andile Phehlukwayo chimed in with a wicket each.
Eastern lacked two things that the Badgers had: a solid partnership and someone who could take the game deep like Malan. The visitors lost wickets at a regular rate for them to pose a threat to the Badgers.
Kabelo Sekhukhune was Eastern Storm's top scorer with a slow 25 from 26 balls. The opener struggled to put the ball away in the powerplay and things did not improve for him in the middle overs. Christopher Britz tried to give the innings impetus but fell for a 19-ball 24. Like Sekhukhune and Britz, Jurie Snyman (22) and Brayden Hicks (21) got starts but failed to kick on.
This is the Badgers' second Super 8 after their stunning three-wicket victory over the Momentum Multiply Titans on the 29 October. The victory lifts them into sixth place after four games. Eastern Storm, who are yet to record a win, are languishing at the bottom of the table.