The Garden Route Badgers, Northern Cape Heat and KZN Inland Tuskers were victorious in the opening round of the Division Two One-Day Cup on Saturday.
In Oudtshoorn, Basheeru-Deen Walters (2-43) and Keenan Vieira (2-31) helped the Badgers bowl out the Mpumalanga Rhinos for 213. Alexander Kok (72) and Rubin Hermann (51) made half-centuries for the visitors.
The Badgers reached the target in just 38.5 overs with six wickets remaining, thanks to Matthew Christensen’s 69 and Hanno Kotze’s 39*.
The KZN Inland Tuskers secured a five-run victory against the Limpopo Impalas in Pietermaritzburg in a match reduced to 45 overs after a delayed start on Saturday morning.
Michael Erlank (63), Yaseen Valli (52) and Tian Koekemoer (47) contributed towards the Tuskers’ total of 237-8.
Ruan Haasbroek (61), Thomas Hobson (58), Morne Venter (42*) and Sizwe Masondo (38) kept the Impalas’ chase on track.
The visitors needed seven runs off the final over with just one wicket in hand. Keith Dudgeon (2-45) conceded just one run before taking the last wicket to secure victory for the home side.
Malcom Nofal (3-28) and Kyle Nipper (3-40) starred with the ball for the Tuskers.
In East London, the Eastern Cape Iinyathi fell three runs short against the Northern Cape Heat.
Half-centuries from Jason Oakes (66), Kelly Smuts (60*) and Grant Thompson (50) saw the Kimberly-based side post 276-5.
Grant Thompson (4-41) then defended 12 runs in the final over, having already dismissed Marco Marais for 46 and run out Jason Niemand for 70.
One-Day Cup Division One fixtures (Sunday, 10am):
Western Province vs KZN Dolphins, Newlands, Cape Town
North West Dragons vs Free State Knights, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Northerns Titans vs EP Warriors, SuperSport Park, Centurion
