Maqonda Ndlovu
Namibia lost the 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup opener by four wickets against Australia on Monday in Kimberley.
Having won the toss and elected to field first, the Aussies restricted the Eagles to 91 runs all out in 33.1 overs before limping over the line to 95/6 in 19.5 overs to record a four-wicket victory with 181 balls remaining.
The Eagles’ number four batsman, Zacheo van Vuuren, top-scored for Namibia with 29 runs, while captain Alexander Busing-Volschenk contributed 21 runs as the young Namibians struggled with the Australian bowlers.
The Namibian bowlers then returned the favour, as Australia laboured to 57/5 inside the first 13 overs.
Jack Brassell and Hanro Badenhorst were at the forefront of Namibia’s fightback, claiming five wickets between them, while Henry van Wyk took one wicket in his only over while conceding six runs.
With Australia wobbling, captain Hugh Weibgen kept his calm and dragged his side over the finishing line as he played a well-calculated 39 not out for victory.
Speaking to Cricket Namibia from Kimberley, team manager Polly Negongo said the team was disappointed by their showing with the bat. “The boys showed some girth and fought in the second innings. Had we put in 30 or 40 more runs in the first innings, we would have won the match, especially after having Australia four wickets down quite early,” he noted.
Negongo said the team benefited from the work that they had put in before the qualifiers and after the qualifications, adding that they are showing signs of growth in the way they apply themselves on and off the field.
“Winning the first game would have been a massive confidence-booster for us, going forward.
It’s now back to the drawing board for us. We are quite positive about our next game against Sri Lanka today. We are going to go out and play hard, positive cricket,” he added.
The team had a light training session yesterday for recovery and to get a few things right before facing Sri Lanka, and the mood in the camp is positive, and the players are raring to go. The Eagles will play their last group match against Zimbabwe on Saturday, 27 January.