Namibia’s national women’s cricket team, the Capricorn Eagles, got off to a great start in the T20 Four Nations Tournament after winning their opening two matches to go to the top of the log.
On Tuesday, they comfortably beat Tanzania by nine wickets, but yesterday’s match against Uganda went down to the wire and had to be decided by a super over, which Namibia won off the final ball.
In yesterday’s match, Uganda won the toss and sent Namibia in to bat, a decision which soon paid dividends as Kayleen Green (4) and Mekelaye Mwatile (6) were dismissed cheaply.
Captain Sune Wittmann hit a run-a-ball 24, and when Edelle van Zyl was dismissed for 13, Namibia were struggling at 56/4 with less than eight overs remaining.
Arrasta Diergaart and Wilka Mwatile, however, came to Namibia’s rescue with a rapid partnership of 36 runs off 26 balls, with Diergaardt eventually dismissed for 36 off 33 balls (4×4), while Mwatile scored 22 off 14 (2×4, 2×6).
Sylvia Shihepo also weighed in with 17 not out off 10 balls (2×4, 1×6) as Namibia reached 123/7 off their 20 overs.
In Uganda’s innings, Namibia got off to a poor start, dropping two catches in the first over, while the bowling was also a bit wayward with several byes conceded.
Namibia’s bowlers, however, kept plugging away, with Mwatile dismissing Janet Mbabazi for 20 and Diergaardt bowling Stephanie Naampina for 20, and when Uganda reached 58/2 at the halfway mark it was still anyone’s game.
Alako Proscovia (44 off 39 balls) and Ritah Musamali (17 off 16) swung the match in Uganda’s favour with a 50-run partnership, but Diergaardt dismissed both in quick succession to revive Namibia’s fortunes.
Namibia upped the pressure with a few more wickets in the final stages to set up an exciting finish, as Uganda tied Namibia’s score of 123 to send the match into a super over.
Uganda scored 12 runs, but Wilka Mwatile stepped up for Namibia with some boundaries as Namibia won the match off the final ball.
Diergaardt won the player of the match for her fine all-round contribution with both bat and ball.
Against Tanzania, Namibia captain Sune Wittmann rose to the occasion with a captain’s innings to steer Namibia to a commanding win.
Namibia’s bowlers laid the foundation, restricting Tanzania to 95 all out, with Wilka Mwatile taking 2/14 and Victoria Hamunyela 2/6, while they were backed up by some great fielding with four run-outs.
In reply, Kayleen Green was dismissed for a second ball duck, but Wittmann and Mekelaye Mwatile led Namibia to victory with a 85-run partnership, with Wittmann scoring 53 not out off 44 balls (8×4, 1×6) and Mwatile 42 not out off 37 (7×4).
TRIBUTE
It was a great knock by Wittmann in difficult circumstances, coming just a few days after the death of her father, and she paid tribute to him after the match.
“My dad was very calm and collected, and that was one thing I reminded myself of today: I just needed to stay calm and remain in control. He played a big role in my life, he was always so supportive in everything we do as children, he always backed us, and he was always so proud of us.
“I believe he’s still proud, not just of me, but of all the children in the house who compete in different sports, and hopefully he’s smiling now. Obviously it has left a massive hole in our hearts, but it’s good to come out and be able to give back to what he has set out for us to be able to do,” she said.
In another match on Tuesday, Uganda beat Hong Kong by six wickets.
The series continues at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground tomorrow with Tanzania taking on Uganda at 09h00, while Namibia take on Hong Kong at 14h00.
