Raynard van Tonder
Ernest Kemm
Ximus du Plooy
Lukas van Rensburg
Abdullah Bayoumy✱
Marcello Piedt
Leo Sadler
Liam Alder
Pheko Moletsane
Banele Cele
Enathi Kitshini
Nathan Engelbrecht
Janneman Malan
Slade van Staden
Modise Maloka
Ross Coetzee
Atwell Mokgoloboto
Thomas Mayes
Lesego Kokohlabana
In a nail‑biting finish at Polokwane Cricket Club, the Garden Route Badgers stunned the Limpopo Impalas, clinching a three‑wicket victory with just three balls remaining. Janneman Malan’s explosive 46 off 38 balls turned the tide, delivering a dramatic climax to a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Match Summary
The toss saw the Limpopo Impalas win and elect to bat under a cloudy sky with a humid 25.3 °C temperature and a 20 % chance of rain. The Impalas posted a modest total of 128/6 in 20 overs, anchored by Ernest Kemm’s steady 39 off 36 balls. Liam Alder and Pheko Moletsane provided tight spell bowling, each taking two wickets for just 18 and 16 runs respectively in their four‑over quotas.
Chasing 132 for victory, the Garden Route Badgers got off to a shaky start, losing early wickets and hovering at 70/4. Nathan Engelbrecht steadied the innings with a composed 21 off 21, but it was Malan’s aggressive 46 that propelled the Badgers forward. Thomas Mayes bowled a disciplined spell for the Badgers, conceding only 24 runs in four overs and picking up a crucial wicket.
With 19.3 overs completed, the Badgers needed just three runs to win. A quick single and a boundary sealed the chase, sending the Badgers' supporters into rapturous applause.
Key Performances
Janneman Malan (Garden Route Badgers) – 46 runs off 38 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes. His innings combined measured aggression with smart strike‑rotation, keeping the required run rate in check during the final overs.
Ernest Kemm (Limpopo Impalas) – 39 runs off 36 balls, anchoring the Impalas' innings with a blend of power and patience.
Liam Alder (Limpopo Impalas) – 2/18 in 4 overs, delivering crucial breakthroughs at the death.
Pheko Moletsane (Limpopo Impalas) – 1/16 in 4 overs, maintaining a tight economy throughout.
Nathan Engelbrecht (Garden Route Badgers) – 21 runs off 21 balls, providing stability after early wickets fell.
Thomas Mayes (Garden Route Badgers) – 1/24 in 4 overs, keeping the Impalas in check during the middle overs.
Turning Points
The match swung on three pivotal moments. First, Kemm’s 39 gave the Impalas a competitive total, but the lack of partnerships beyond the 30‑run stand limited their ceiling. Second, Alder’s early wickets in the Badgers' innings reduced them to 70/4, creating pressure and forcing a recalibration of the chase. Finally, Malan’s partnership with Engelbrecht in the last five overs, especially the decisive boundary in the 19.3 over, sealed the win for the Badgers.
Series Implications
With this victory, the Garden Route Badgers climb to the top of Group A in the CSA Pro T20 Cup 2026, while the Limpopo Impalas remain winless in their head‑to‑head encounters (LMP 1 win vs GRB 0). The Badgers’ win not only boosts morale but also enhances their net run rate, a crucial factor as the tournament progresses. For the Impalas, the loss highlights the need for deeper batting depth and more effective death‑over bowling if they hope to bounce back in upcoming fixtures.
Cricket enthusiasts searching for the Limpopo Impalas vs Garden Route Badgers T20 Mond will find this match a classic example of a low‑scoring thriller turning on a single innings of brilliance. The Limpopo Impalas T20 score of 128 and the Garden Route Badgers cricket today narrative underscore the unpredictable nature of the CSA Pro T20 Cup 2026 live score board.