Namibia aim for the top

NAMIBIA remain third out of seven teams on the three-day SAA Challenge cricket log after drawing last weekend’s match against Northerns.

After three matches Namibia are now third on the log in Pool B of the SAA Challenge competition with 35,04 points.The whole of the second day’s play was rained out, making a result impossible, but Namibia still did enough to edge Northerns in the bonus points race by 8,88 points to 7,92 points.Northerns were all out for 246 in their first innings, while Namibia were all out for 294 in their first innings before the match was called off.Namibia’s top batsmen were JB Burger with 70 off 79 balls, which included four fours and three sixes and LP van der Westhuizen who scored 85 not out off only 87 balls (7×4, 2×6).Namibia thrashed Western Province by 301 runs in their first match on October 16-18 2008, but then suffered a 10-wicket defeat to North West in Potchefstroom on October 23-25.North West currently lead Pool B with 47,58 points from three matches, followed by Northerns on 43,56 points after four matches. Free State, whom Namibia will play next on February 5-7, are fourth on the log, followed by Kwazulu Natal Inland, Western Province and Border.Namibia are also lying third in the limited overs SAA Cup match competition after beating Northerns by 15 runs on Sunday.In an exciting match, which could have gone either way, Gerrie Snyman played a major role in Namibia’s victory.He was Namibia’s top batsman with a whirlwind innings of 81 off only 38 balls, which included four fours and eight massive sixes. Captain Louis Burger scored a fine 67 not out to steer Namibia to 218/9 off their 45 overs.Northerns were always in the hunt for victory with Andre Seymour scoring 60 and Jeandre Jumat 53, but when Louis Klazinga dismissed Jumat, Snyman cleaned up the tail with two more wickets as Northerns were all out for 203.Border currently lead the log with 12 points from three matches, followed by Western Province on 10 and Namibia on nine points.Gerrie Snyman and Louis Burger are both amongst the top ten batsmen in the SAA Cup batting averages.Snyman is seventh, having scored 173 runs at an average of 86,50, while Burger is tenth with 72 runs at an average of 72.Snyman has also scored the most sixes in the competition with 14 in three matches.In the three-day SAA Challenge, Louis Burger is lying sixth overall in the batting averages, having scored 125 runs at an average of 77,50.Kola Burger is Namibia’s top bowler and 15th overall in the competition with a haul of 10 wickets. – www.namibiasport.com.na