Eagles to host Cranes

Eagles to host CranesPlayers gear up for action Cricket Namibia is four days away from hosting the Uganda Cricket Association in Windhoek. Limba Mupetami







WINDHOEK

The Eagles of Namibia will take on the Ugandan Cricket Cranes in a T20 and 50-over tournament at the Wanderers Cricket Ground from 2 to 8 April in the Castle Lite Series.

The Eagles have been actively playing club cricket and the series is a great opportunity to prepare for upcoming tournaments in July, August, September, and eventually the T20 World Cup campaign in India, set to take place seven months from now.

The Namibians last played an international match in February 2020 against Ireland’s Wolves. They will now use the matches to see how combinations are working out and possibly test a couple of fringe players.

Head coach Pierre De Bruyn said they have had excellent training for over a year due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

“It has given us an opportunity to develop in other departments: Physical, mental and skill development. We have worked hard. The excitement is really up there, I can sense it in the players and at training. “Players have put in hours for the last year without any competitive cricket,” he said.

Well prepared

“There is a lot of excitement and it’s up to us to manage that excitement and to have a good start against Uganda on Saturday.

“We are playing at home. We have prepared very well and our chances are good to win the series. But we also know that Uganda is a strong side with dangerous players. They have an experienced coach, so they will come here to compete, but if we play the way we have trained; if we trust that, the score will take care of itself,” De Bruyn added.

The first T20 match against the Cranes will take place on 3 April at 14:30. On Monday, 5 April, at 10:00, another T20 match will follow. Thereafter, another match will follow at 14:30.

On Wednesday, 7 April, there will be a 50-over match at 10:00. This will be followed by another 50-over clash on Thursday, 8 April, at 10:00.

The Eagles squad:

Gerhard Merwe Erasmus (captain), Tangeni Lungameni, JP Kotze, Mauritius Ngupita, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Karl Birkenstock, Ben Shikongo, Bernard Scholtz, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Craig Williams, Michael van Lingen, Stephen Baard, Michau du Preez, Dewald Nell, Divan la Cock, Shaun Fouche and Ruben Trumpelmann.

Following Covid-19 protocol, spectators will not be allowed during the tournament, but matches will be broadcast via Cricket Namibia’s digital platforms.