Tough trials in cricket

NATIONAL cricket trials were held over the weekend as the selectors intensified their search for the final 15 players to represent Namibia at the Cricket World Cup qualifiers taking place in South Africa in April.

Two invitational teams played each other in two limited-overs matches on Saturday and Sunday and although both matches were disrupted by rain, there were some good performances on both sides.
On Saturday, a Danie Keulder Invitational team batted first, with captain Craig Williams top scoring with 37 runs from 51 balls.
The next best batsmen were Tobie Verwey, who scored 34 from 35 balls and Gerrie Snyman who scored a quick-fire 22 from 14 balls. Snyman hit three sixes, one of which went right out of the Wanderers ground into the adjacent Ramblers ground, but he chanced his arm once too often and was caught by LP van der Westhuizen when he top-edged a ball by Bjorn Kotze.
The other batsmen to reach double figures were JB Burger (19), Sarel Burger (11) and Ewald Steenkamp (16). The best bowlers for the Louis Burger Invitational team were Bjorn Kotze (2/16 off 5 overs), Andrew Louw (2/20 off 3 overs), Hendrik Marx (1/27 off 7), LP van der Westhuizen (1/17 off 6) and Morne Engelbrecht (1/12 off 4).
Opener Stefan Swanepoel made a satisfactory return after more than a year out of cricket when he scored 25 from 39 balls for the Louis Burger Invitational team.
His opening partner Raymond van Schoor scored 19 from 41 balls.
Another recalled batsman Riaan Walters top scored with 44 runs from 52 balls. Walters, who last played for Namibia more than three years ago, stopped playing cricket due to work commitments, but on Saturday he showed that he still has the talent to perform at national level.
The only wicket takers for the Danie Keulder team were Morne van Niekerk (1/21 off 5 overs) and Sarel Burger (1/10 off 6 overs).
On Sunday, national captain Louis Burger top scored for his team with 37 runs from 60 balls. LP van der Westhuizen added 17 off 33 balls, while Gerrie Snyman was unusually subdued, scoring 13 off 78 balls.
Further down the order, fast bowler Hendrik Marx scored 28 runs off 36 balls. The top bowlers for the Danie Keulder team were Louis Klazinga (3/39 off 10 overs), Ian van Zyl (2/28 off 6), Sarel Burger (1/20 off 8), Bernard Scholtz (1/7 off 7), Andrew Louw (1/10 off 7) and JB Burger (1/26 of 4).
Raymond van Schoor top-scored for the Danie Keulder Invitational team, with a fine knock of 70 off 134 balls.
The next best batsmen were Sarel Burger who scored 61 from 93 balls and Stefan Swanepoel who scored 26 from 57 balls.
Morne Engelbrecht was the only wicket taker, with 2/28 off 4 overs. The national teams were due to be announced late yesterday. – www.namibiasport.com.na