NAMIBIA’s senior cricket team will make history when they take on Kwazulu Natal in the final of the CSA 3-Day Cup competition starting at Kingsmead, Durban on Thursday.
It is the first time that Namibia has reached the final of the competition since it started competing in the domestic South African tournaments at the turn of the century, while it also underscores their steady improvement over the past few years.
After struggling for years against South Africa’s provincial teams and normally finishing bottom of the log, Namibia, last year reached the final of the CSA One Day Challenge for the first time, before losing by seven wickets to Northerns.
They still struggled in the 3-Day Cup last year, finishing bottom of Pool B with only one win and six defeats, but this season has been a revelation as they started like a house on fire.
They won their first five matches in a row to build up a big lead at the top of Pool B, and although Namibia went on to lose three of their final five matches, they still managed to finish on top of log to qualify for this year’s final.
They accumulated 153,68 points to just pip Free State (151,72) to the top position, while Kwazulu Natal Inland came third on 142,80 points.
Namibia will now meet Kwazulu Natal in the final, after they topped Pool A on 178,90 points, followed by Western Province (159,22) and Border (133,54).
Opening batsman Stephen Baard takes over the Namibian captaincy following the retirement of Sarel Burger and his regular vice captain Craig Williams.
The two all-rounders have consistently delivered exceptional performances over the past decade and will both be difficult to replace. Williams’ contribution this season once again underscored his class, as he finished as Namibia’s top batsman in the 3-Day Cup, scoring 687 runs at an average of 52,84 and a top score of 184.
Namibia, however, have some exciting youngsters coming through and a fine squad has been assembled for this weekend’s final.
The dependable Baard will open the batting with the prodigiously talented school boy Lohan Louwrens, who last year scored his maiden first class century as a 17-year-old.
The classy Jean Bredenkamp will start at number three, while Gerhard Erasmus, who was Namibia’s best batsman at the World Cricket League Division 2 competition in February, will bat at four.
Besides them there is still a lot of batting depth in the side, with the likes of the young Niko Davin, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green and JJ Smit following further down the order.
Smit and Frylinck will lead Namibia’s bowling attack along with spinner Bernard Scholtz, who was the fourth highest wicket taker in the CSA 3-Day Cup with 33 wickets in eight matches.
The final will be played over four days, starting today at 09h00 and continuing through to Sunday, 15 April. Each day will consist of three playing sessions from 09h00 to 11h30, 12h10 to 14h25 and 14h45 to 17h00.
The Namibian team is as follows:
Stephen Baard (captain), Lohandre Louwrens, Jean Bredenkamp, Gerhard Erasmus (vice captain), Niko Davin, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green (wicketkeeper),
JJ Smit, Christopher Coombe, Bernard Scholtz and Tiaan Snyman.
Danie van Schoor is the 12th man while Dee Thakur is the coach and Clint Henry the manager.
