Namibia lose thriller against Northerns

Namibia’s national cricket team suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Northerns in a thrilling limited overs SAA Cup match in Pretoria over the weekend.

Namibia batted first and scored 239 for nine wickets off their allotted 45 overs, at a rapid run rate of 5,31 per over. Northerns had wickets in hand but their run rate was a bit slow and the match went down to the wire before Northerns clinched the winning runs off the second last ball of the match.After Namibia lost some cheap early wickets, Kola Burger hit a brilliant century for Namibia to revive their innings.None of Namibia’s top order batsmen could impose themselves and as wickets fell regularly.Only Gerhard Rudolph (13), Nicolaas Scholtz (17) and Bjorn Kotze (16) could reach double figures and when Kola Burger came to the crease Namibia were struggling at 95/6.The burly Burger and wicket keeper Hugo Ludik however turned Namibia’s innings around with a great partnership of 134 runs for the seventh wicket.Ludik was eventually out for 43, while Burger scored 100 runs off only 57 balls, which included six sixes and seven fours to take Namibia to 239/9.Northerns got off to a good start with their openers Maurice Aronstam (71) and Rushdi Jappie (54) putting on 134 runs for the first wicket.Bjorn Kotze managed to bowl Petrus van Biljon for 12, but Mark Mashimbyi (62 not out) and Anton Roux (16 not out) took Northerns to victory for the loss of three wickets.Namibia’s wicket takers were Bjorn Kotze (1/45 off nine overs), Craig Williams (1/26 off six) and Deon Kotze (1/44 off seven).Namibia have now completed their campaign in the SAA Cup competition and finished seventh and second last on the Pool B log with six points.Gauteng won Pool B with 19 points, followed by Northerns, Easterns and Free State who all finished on 18 points.Earlier Namibia’s three-day SAA Challenge match against Northerns was rained out.Namibia finished last in Pool B on 42,96 points from seven matches.Griqualand West won Pool B on 104,34 points, followed by Gauteng on 85,64 and Northerns on 77,50 points.Northerns had wickets in hand but their run rate was a bit slow and the match went down to the wire before Northerns clinched the winning runs off the second last ball of the match.After Namibia lost some cheap early wickets, Kola Burger hit a brilliant century for Namibia to revive their innings.None of Namibia’s top order batsmen could impose themselves and as wickets fell regularly.Only Gerhard Rudolph (13), Nicolaas Scholtz (17) and Bjorn Kotze (16) could reach double figures and when Kola Burger came to the crease Namibia were struggling at 95/6.The burly Burger and wicket keeper Hugo Ludik however turned Namibia’s innings around with a great partnership of 134 runs for the seventh wicket.Ludik was eventually out for 43, while Burger scored 100 runs off only 57 balls, which included six sixes and seven fours to take Namibia to 239/9.Northerns got off to a good start with their openers Maurice Aronstam (71) and Rushdi Jappie (54) putting on 134 runs for the first wicket.Bjorn Kotze managed to bowl Petrus van Biljon for 12, but Mark Mashimbyi (62 not out) and Anton Roux (16 not out) took Northerns to victory for the loss of three wickets.Namibia’s wicket takers were Bjorn Kotze (1/45 off nine overs), Craig Williams (1/26 off six) and Deon Kotze (1/44 off seven).Namibia have now completed their campaign in the SAA Cup competition and finished seventh and second last on the Pool B log with six points.Gauteng won Pool B with 19 points, followed by Northerns, Easterns and Free State who all finished on 18 points.Earlier Namibia’s three-day SAA Challenge match against Northerns was rained out.Namibia finished last in Pool B on 42,96 points from seven matches.Griqualand West won Pool B on 104,34 points, followed by Gauteng on 85,64 and Northerns on 77,50 points.