Zealand taking England by storm 

Donovan Zealand, a young Namibian cricketer, is fast making a name for himself and rewriting the record books in England. 

The 24-year-old Zealand left for England in April this year to join Penrith Cricket Club as an amateur overseas player and has since taken the Palace Shield competition in northern England by storm. 

As a batter he has made some solid contributions, scoring 426 runs in 17 matches at an average of 35,50, with a highest score of 61, but it has been as a bowler that he has caught the eye.

To date he has taken 58 wickets for 667 runs at an average of 11,50, including six five-wicket hauls, or ‘fifers’, as well as a remarkable best performance of 8/18. 

In his first match on 27 April, the right arm offspinner made an immediate impact, taking six wickets for 58 runs to help his side to a 39-run victory against Penwortham, and followed it up with 4/40 in a 11-run victory against Torrisholme on 4 May. 

The following weekend he took another ‘fifer’ – 6/48 – in a five-wicket victory against Eccleston, and on 25 May he took 7/27 as Penrith beat Lancaster by two wickets.

On 1 June he only got one wicket for 46 runs, but made his mark as a batter with his team’s top score of 57 in a 108-run defeat to Eccleston, and the next weekend he took 4/58 in a 33-run defeat against Carnforth. 

On 28 June he starred with bat and ball, scoring 61 runs and then taking 5/65 in a 28-run defeat against Preston, and on 6 July he took 4/73 in a 13-run defeat to Rufford. 

On 13 July he took his fifth fifer of the season – 5/25 – in a 75-run victory against Penwortham, but his best performance came the following weekend when he took 8/18 to steer Penrith to an eight-wicket victory against Torrisholme. 

Zealand conceded 10 runs off his first over, but stormed back to take eight wickets off his next seven overs, which included five wickets in seven balls, as well as a hattrick. It was the best bowling performance in the league so far and Zealand was understandably delighted. 

“They got off to quite a good start, but then the wickets fell one after the other. I didn’t even realise I got a hattrick because I got two wickets at the end of one over and one at the start of the next so I forgot about that, but my team mates reminded me afterwards. It was a great feeling and all my team mates were just as happy for me – it was my best-ever bowling performance,” he said.

On 27 July he took 3/27 in a seven-wicket victory against Eccleston, but on 3 August, for once he remained wicketless as Penrith slumped to a nine-wicket defeat to Barrow, who currently lead the log on 138 points, while Penrith are sixth on 112 points.

Zealand said he it has been a great experience so far. 

“In the first few weeks it was quite difficult to adjust to the climate, but the club has been great and made me feel at home. There’s a good vibe, and everyone is positive and supportive. It’s a very competitive league and everyone wants to do their best.”

Zealand, who plays for Windhoek Old Boys Cricket Club during the cricket season back home, said he hopes to catch the eye of the national selectors soon. 

“I feel that I’m pulling my weight, I’m probably in my best form at the moment and my stats speak for themselves. I’m available, there’s a clause that says if I’m called up to the national team the club has to release me,” he said.

“I’ll be back in Namibia towards the end of September when I’ll be back in the high performance squad and with Old Boys in the Namibian league again,” he added.

Zealand said he hopes to extend his contract by another three years in September, while he hopes his dream of playing professionally in England will materialise. 

“Next year I’ll come back earlier to England, because if I go earlier I’ll be considered as a normal amateur and not an overseas amateur which will strengthen my chances to play professionally,” he said.