Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIA face a baptism of fire when they open their T20 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Geelong on Sunday. The Indian Ocean nation is on a red-hot streak after they won the Asia Cup last month, and on current form could be amongst the favourites to win the World Cup.
NAMIBIA face a baptism of fire when they open their T20 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Geelong on Sunday. The Indian Ocean nation is on a red-hot streak after they won the Asia Cup last month, and on current form could be amongst the favourites to win the World Cup.
In the Asia Cup final they comfortably beat Pakistan by 23 runs, which capped a winning five-match streak at the tournament.
They lost their opening match against Afghanistan, but then beat Bangladesh, Afghanistan in a rematch, India and Pakistan, before once again beating Pakistan in the final.
Their success galvanised the nation after months of economic hardship caused by food and fuel shortages and the team received a hero’s welcome on their return.
Since then, Sri Lanka comfortably beat Zimbabwe by 33 runs in a warm-up match in Melbourne on Tuesday, but their final World Cup warm-up match against Ireland was rained out.
Namibia, by contrast, lost a tri-series in Windhoek against DP World Lions and Lahore Qalandars last month, but got a confidence-boosting 11-run warm-up victory against Ireland at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday, and coach Pierre de Bruyn said they were ready to face Sri Lanka.
“We are looking forward to our first group match against Sri Lanka on Sunday, as per last year, when we also played Sri Lanka in our first match. Last year it was really entering the unknown by facing a test nation in a world cup encounter and it was always going to be a bit overwhelming,” he said.
“But we have gained a lot of confidence, playing against teams like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Pakistan and India at the last world cup, and this time around I believe as a unit and as a team we will be a lot more calmer and competitive,” he added.
De Bruyn said Sri Lanka was in top form.
“Sri Lanka are playing some fantastic cricket at the moment, they just won the Asian Cup which is incredible for them, so they are on a high, and they’ve got a lot of confidence. But we are not focussing on the outcome, it’s all about the processes for us and we need to stay present and break it down – every single ball is going to be a huge battle for us and we need to stay in those battles,” he said.
“We’re a team that never gives up and we will continue doing that regardless of who we play against and I believe that its perfect timing to play against a team like Sri Lanka in our first outing. They set the intensity levels, and they set the standards that are required if we want to be able to advance to the Super 12s,” he added.
De Bruyn, meanwhile, indicated that his starting line-up was quite settled, although Ben Shikongo’s great performance against Ireland, when he took three wickets in four balls, gave him a ‘good headache.’
“For the first time in a while we’ve got healthy competition in the seamers department which is great. Tangeni has had a brilliant few months, he’s been bowling well, especially in the 50-over ODI format and then Ben, bowled beautifully on Tuesday, so it’s a good headache to have,” he said.
“I think it will come down to the opposition and which of the bowlers is better suited against those type of batsmen and on those wickets. Ben got more bounce out of the MCG wicket, whereas Tangeni struggled a bit in terms of the bounce, but it’s great to have all the bowlers on form and selectable,” he said.
With the rest of the line-up pretty much decided, the youthful pair of Divan La Cock and Michael van Lingen are set to open the innings, while Nicol-Loftie Eaton and captain Gerhard Erasmus complete the top order.
Jan Frylinck has been moved up to number five after some impressive recent batting performances, and is followed by the big hitting all-rounders JJ Smit and David Wiese.
Another big hitter, pace bowler Ruben Trumpelmann follows at eight, while the batting depth is emphasised by the fact that former opener Zane Green can only find a spot at number nine.
Spin wizard Bernard Scholtz follows at ten, while Shikongo and Lungameni battle it out for the 11th spot.
The match, which will also be the opening match of the tournament, takes place at Kardinia Park in Geelong, starting at 06h00 Namibian time on Sunday, 16 October.
In the Asia Cup final they comfortably beat Pakistan by 23 runs, which capped a winning five-match streak at the tournament.
They lost their opening match against Afghanistan, but then beat Bangladesh, Afghanistan in a rematch, India and Pakistan, before once again beating Pakistan in the final.
Their success galvanised the nation after months of economic hardship caused by food and fuel shortages and the team received a hero’s welcome on their return.
Since then, Sri Lanka comfortably beat Zimbabwe by 33 runs in a warm-up match in Melbourne on Tuesday, but their final World Cup warm-up match against Ireland was rained out.
Namibia, by contrast, lost a tri-series in Windhoek against DP World Lions and Lahore Qalandars last month, but got a confidence-boosting 11-run warm-up victory against Ireland at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday, and coach Pierre de Bruyn said they were ready to face Sri Lanka.
“We are looking forward to our first group match against Sri Lanka on Sunday, as per last year, when we also played Sri Lanka in our first match. Last year it was really entering the unknown by facing a test nation in a world cup encounter and it was always going to be a bit overwhelming,” he said.
“But we have gained a lot of confidence, playing against teams like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Pakistan and India at the last world cup, and this time around I believe as a unit and as a team we will be a lot more calmer and competitive,” he added.
De Bruyn said Sri Lanka was in top form.
“Sri Lanka are playing some fantastic cricket at the moment, they just won the Asian Cup which is incredible for them, so they are on a high, and they’ve got a lot of confidence. But we are not focussing on the outcome, it’s all about the processes for us and we need to stay present and break it down – every single ball is going to be a huge battle for us and we need to stay in those battles,” he said.
“We’re a team that never gives up and we will continue doing that regardless of who we play against and I believe that its perfect timing to play against a team like Sri Lanka in our first outing. They set the intensity levels, and they set the standards that are required if we want to be able to advance to the Super 12s,” he added.
De Bruyn, meanwhile, indicated that his starting line-up was quite settled, although Ben Shikongo’s great performance against Ireland, when he took three wickets in four balls, gave him a ‘good headache.’
“For the first time in a while we’ve got healthy competition in the seamers department which is great. Tangeni has had a brilliant few months, he’s been bowling well, especially in the 50-over ODI format and then Ben, bowled beautifully on Tuesday, so it’s a good headache to have,” he said.
“I think it will come down to the opposition and which of the bowlers is better suited against those type of batsmen and on those wickets. Ben got more bounce out of the MCG wicket, whereas Tangeni struggled a bit in terms of the bounce, but it’s great to have all the bowlers on form and selectable,” he said.
With the rest of the line-up pretty much decided, the youthful pair of Divan La Cock and Michael van Lingen are set to open the innings, while Nicol-Loftie Eaton and captain Gerhard Erasmus complete the top order.
Jan Frylinck has been moved up to number five after some impressive recent batting performances, and is followed by the big hitting all-rounders JJ Smit and David Wiese.
Another big hitter, pace bowler Ruben Trumpelmann follows at eight, while the batting depth is emphasised by the fact that former opener Zane Green can only find a spot at number nine.
Spin wizard Bernard Scholtz follows at ten, while Shikongo and Lungameni battle it out for the 11th spot.
The match, which will also be the opening match of the tournament, takes place at Kardinia Park in Geelong, starting at 06h00 Namibian time on Sunday, 16 October.
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