Mieke de Ridder Reflects on Hollywoodbets Pro Series Season with Garden Route Badgers

Mieke de Ridder Reflects on Hollywoodbets Pro Series Journey, Applauds Badgers' Unsung Heroes

Garden Route Badgers Keeper-Batter Reviews a Season of Learning, Grit and Team Spirit

Johannesburg, 21 March 2025 – As the 2024/25 Hollywoodbets Pro Series draws to a close, Garden Route Badgers’ wicketkeeper and Proteas Women international Mieke de Ridder has taken a moment to reflect on a season filled with valuable lessons, personal resilience, and the importance of team camaraderie.

While the Badgers won only two matches across both formats currently sitting fifth in the 50-over standings and sixth in the T20s the Western Cape side has done enough over the two-year cycle to avoid relegation. And for de Ridder, the campaign has been about much more than just wins and losses.

A Season of Growth Amidst Setbacks

De Ridder, a key figure in the national setup, admitted that the season didn’t go entirely to plan on the personal front. Between injury setbacks and international duty, she made just eight appearances across formats. Still, since rejoining the squad in early 2025, the 29-year-old has shown signs of finding her rhythm, both behind the stumps and with the bat.

Her standout moment came against local rivals Western Province, where she compiled a patient 60 off 90 balls her highest score of the season and contributed with a stumping and a catch.

“The season has had a lot of ups and downs,” de Ridder admitted. “I had a few poor performances with the bat but kept on working and trusting the process, and it came off in my last innings scoring some runs. Keeping-wise, I have felt really good throughout the season.”

She also stressed the psychological importance of time in the middle after spending much of late 2024 on the sidelines:
“The game time has been vital. Not getting as much game time as one would like has a way of bringing doubt to your mind. Those have all been put to rest now with being able to spend some time in the middle doing what I love.”

The Characters Behind the Badgers

While results may not have fully reflected their efforts, the Garden Route Badgers have grown stronger as a unit—thanks in no small part to the personalities within the dressing room.

“There are so many to pick from,” de Ridder said with a smile. “As a unit, we have a few ‘clowns’ around so we always have a good laugh, which stands out to me.”

Leadership, however, remains a core strength of the side. De Ridder was quick to praise skipper Nicolien Janse van Rensburg, whose all-round efforts have anchored the team on multiple occasions.

“Personally, I feel our captain has led from the front good knocks with the bat from sticky situations as well as leading with the ball,” she said, underlining Van Rensburg’s role in guiding the side during tricky phases.

Spotlight on the Unsung Heroes

Every team has its quiet performers the ones who go about their business without much fanfare but are vital to the side’s overall balance. For de Ridder, that recognition goes to pace bowler Khayakazi Mathe, who has picked up an impressive 17 wickets across formats this season.

“I feel she goes under the radar with her bowling,” she said. “But she keeps things real tight upfront and is very economical.”

Mathe’s contributions with the new ball have often set the tone for the Badgers, helping them stay competitive even when defending modest totals.

A Guiding Hand from the Coach

Head coach Martelize van der Merwe has also earned special mention from the Proteas glovewoman, particularly for her steady influence throughout a challenging season.

“She kept on reminding us of the bigger picture, and I felt we used that as our driving force,” de Ridder noted, speaking to the importance of perspective and mental clarity in a demanding domestic calendar.

A Final Push in Bloemfontein

With one weekend left in the campaign, the Badgers are set to face the Knights in Bloemfontein a final opportunity to express themselves and possibly finish on a high.

“Being the last game weekend of the season, we would just like to go out there and showcase our abilities as a team something I feel we haven’t done as of yet,” said de Ridder. “And of course, we would like to end off with two wins to just prove to ourselves that we belong in this division.”

The focus may be on development and expression, but there’s no hiding the hunger for results. A strong finish would cap off what’s been a season of growth, bonding, and quiet determination.

Title Race Reaches Final Weekend

As the Badgers prepare for their closing fixtures, the bigger picture of the Hollywoodbets Pro Series remains alive. The DP World Lions and Western Province remain in the hunt for the titles in the 50-over and T20 formats, respectively, while the Hollywoodbets Dolphins still have a mathematical shot at the Pro 50 crown.

For the Badgers and de Ridder, though, this final outing is about pride, passion, and laying a platform for greater success in seasons to come.