‘Vipers’ in positive start

THE opening batsmen for the Namibian senior cricket team started their campaign against the visiting Eastern Cape Warriors on a positive note by posting 277/3 after 80 overs in their three-day game opening match at Wanderers yesterday.

The most progressive player in the side known as the ‘Vipers’, was Danie Keulder, who late yesterday had 94 runs not out, while J B Burger also contributed 74 runs before he was clean-bowled. Next to follow was Riaan Walters, who was knocked-out for 47, after putting away six fours and two sixes.Stephan Swanepoel made 24 runs before he was ousted, with Deon Kotze coming in at four.President of the Namibia Cricket Board (NCB), Laurie Pieters, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that he was confident that the team would go a long way as the pitch favours the batsmen.”It is a flat pitch and is ideal for batting.The bowlers have to do a lot of work, but so far the South African bowlers have been struggling to take wickets, which shows that the Namibians will have a similar problem when it is their turn,” he said.Pieters said the bowlers of either teams are expected to win games for them at Wanderers, as opposed to other venues such as United where the batsmen are struggling.The two teams will also play in two one-day matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at United and Wanderers respectively.The Namibian team will alsol have a busy schedule leading to the qualifying matches during the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Trophy scheduled in Ireland next July.Prior to this they will play their last matches in Uganda.The team will play a total of 37 one-day matches, while they will have five three-day matches in their preparations for the World Cup qualifying trophy.The Namibians are expected to leave for Kenya at the end of September for three one-day matches and one three-day games, before they engage Zimbabwe A in similar fixtures in Harare in October.Pieters said they might possibly play the test-playing side of Zimbabwe during their tour there.Namibia will then host Kenya in February next year, before they tackle Scotland, also in Namibia, in April.Next to follow was Riaan Walters, who was knocked-out for 47, after putting away six fours and two sixes.Stephan Swanepoel made 24 runs before he was ousted, with Deon Kotze coming in at four.President of the Namibia Cricket Board (NCB), Laurie Pieters, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that he was confident that the team would go a long way as the pitch favours the batsmen.”It is a flat pitch and is ideal for batting.The bowlers have to do a lot of work, but so far the South African bowlers have been struggling to take wickets, which shows that the Namibians will have a similar problem when it is their turn,” he said.Pieters said the bowlers of either teams are expected to win games for them at Wanderers, as opposed to other venues such as United where the batsmen are struggling.The two teams will also play in two one-day matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at United and Wanderers respectively.The Namibian team will alsol have a busy schedule leading to the qualifying matches during the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Trophy scheduled in Ireland next July.Prior to this they will play their last matches in Uganda.The team will play a total of 37 one-day matches, while they will have five three-day matches in their preparations for the World Cup qualifying trophy.The Namibians are expected to leave for Kenya at the end of September for three one-day matches and one three-day games, before they engage Zimbabwe A in similar fixtures in Harare in October.Pieters said they might possibly play the test-playing side of Zimbabwe during their tour there.Namibia will then host Kenya in February next year, before they tackle Scotland, also in Namibia, in April.