Namibia in stiff Easterns test

NAMIBIA will start as the underdogs when they take on Easterns in a three-day SAA Challenge match in Benoni, South Africa, starting today.

Namibia were comprehensively beaten at home by Griqualand West last weekend and are currently second last on the log after they drew their first match against North West. Easterns, on the other hand, are third on the log after two draws and a victory from their opening three matches and are lying just three points behind the log leaders Griqualand West.They will be fired up to beat Namibia on their home turf, knowing that a victory could put them at the top of the log.Last weekend Griquas beat Namibia by 148 runs after Namibia let a great start slip.Namibia had the visitors reeling at 119 for the loss of eight wickets, but then dropped two crucial catches as Griquas recovered to reach 198 all out.Namibia’s batsmen then failed to apply themselves and were all out for 126 in their first innings.Griquas turned on the screws in the second innings with Adrian Mclaren hitting a century as they were all out for 349, setting Namibia a winning target of 422 runs.Namibia started off positively with Gerrie Snyman scoring a fine century but once he was gone the rest of the batting line-up crumbled as Namibia were all out for 273.The Namibian selectors have had to reshuffle the team since several of their players are not available due to work commitments or injury.Opening batsman Gareth Cloete, has been dropped after a subdued debut against Griquas when he scored a duck and 6 runs.Fellow opener JB Burger is not available due to work commitments, while spin bowler Wilbur Slabber is struggling with a back injury.The new players in the squad are top order batsman Michael Durant, all rounder LP van der Westhuizen and seam bowler Ian van Zyl.Gerrie Snyman will captain Namibia during the three-day SAA Challenge match.Namibia’s regular captain Bjorn Kotze also misses the three-day match due to work commitments, but will join the team for the one-day SAA Cup match on Sunday.His brother Deon Kotze and ST Ackerman will also join the team for Sunday’s match.Namibia will go into the matches with a young and inexperienced team, but they certainly have the potential to pull off a surprise against Easterns.The 17-year-old Raymond van Schoor has emerged as a reliable opener, having reached the forties on three occasions and he is due for a big score.Gerrie Snyman is in fine form with both bat and ball, while Craig Williams has also emerged as a top all-rounder.The top order batting lineup however looks a bit thin and there will be a lot of pressure on players like LP van der Westhuizen, Michael Durant and Gerhard Rudolph to deliver some big scores.Namibia have a good bowling attack with Ian van Zyl, Kola Burger, Louis Klazenga and Nicolaas Scholtz all capable of turning in match winning performances.The Namibian squad is as follows: Gerrie Snyman (captain), Raymond Van Schoor, LP Van der Westhuizen, Michael Durant, Gerhard Rudolph, CraigWilliams, Nicolaas Scholtz, Ewald Steenkamp, Kola Burger, Ian van Zyl and Louis Klazinga.Bjorn Kotze, Deon Kotze and ST Ackerman join the team for Sunday’s SAA Cup limited overs match.www.namibiasport.com.naEasterns, on the other hand, are third on the log after two draws and a victory from their opening three matches and are lying just three points behind the log leaders Griqualand West.They will be fired up to beat Namibia on their home turf, knowing that a victory could put them at the top of the log.Last weekend Griquas beat Namibia by 148 runs after Namibia let a great start slip.Namibia had the visitors reeling at 119 for the loss of eight wickets, but then dropped two crucial catches as Griquas recovered to reach 198 all out.Namibia’s batsmen then failed to apply themselves and were all out for 126 in their first innings.Griquas turned on the screws in the second innings with Adrian Mclaren hitting a century as they were all out for 349, setting Namibia a winning target of 422 runs.Namibia started off positively with Gerrie Snyman scoring a fine century but once he was gone the rest of the batting line-up crumbled as Namibia were all out for 273.The Namibian selectors have had to reshuffle the team since several of their players are not available due to work commitments or injury.Opening batsman Gareth Cloete, has been dropped after a subdued debut against Griquas when he scored a duck and 6 runs.Fellow opener JB Burger is not available due to work commitments, while spin bowler Wilbur Slabber is struggling with a back injury.The new players in the squad are top order batsman Michael Durant, all rounder LP van der Westhuizen and seam bowler Ian van Zyl.Gerrie Snyman will captain Namibia during the three-day SAA Challenge match.Namibia’s regular captain Bjorn Kotze also misses the three-day match due to work commitments, but will join the team for the one-day SAA Cup match on Sunday.His brother Deon Kotze and ST Ackerman will also join the team for Sunday’s match.Namibia will go into the matches with a young and inexperienced team, but they certainly have the potential to pull off a surprise against Easterns.The 17-year-old Raymond van Schoor has emerged as a reliable opener, having reached the forties on three occasions and he is due for a big score.Gerrie Snyman is in fine form with both bat and ball, while Craig Williams has also emerged as a top all-rounder.The top order batting lineup however looks a bit thin and there will be a lot of pressure on players like LP van der Westhuizen, Michael Durant and Gerhard Rudolph to deliver some big scores.Namibia have a good bowling attack with Ian van Zyl, Kola Burger, Louis Klazenga and Nicolaas Scholtz all capable of turning in match winning performances.The Namibian squad is as follows: Gerrie Snyman (captain), Raymond Van Schoor, LP Van der Westhuizen, Michael Durant, Gerhard Rudolph, CraigWilliams, Nicolaas Scholtz, Ewald Steenkamp, Kola Burger, Ian van Zyl and Louis Klazinga.Bjorn Kotze, Deon Kotze and ST Ackerman join the team for Sunday’s SAA Cup limited overs match.www.namibiasport.com.na