PNG crushed by captain’s knock ANDREW POOLMANGerhard Erasmus led from the front as the Namibian Eagles cricket team dominated Papua New Guinea in an 84-run win in their second T20 World Cup warm-up match in Dubai yesterday.
The islanders sent Namibia in to bat first and achieved some early success, bowling out Stephen Baard (0), running out Zane Green (3) and dismissing Craig Williams (5) with a catch as the Eagles found themselves at 27 for three after 4.1 overs.
Captain Erasmus however took control in aggressive manner, hitting nine sixes and 12 fours on his way to a 32-ball fifty and a 53-ball hundred, before eventually retiring not out on 129 (60 balls).
Along with Erasmus, David Wiese (66 not out, 32 balls, 8x4 3x6) also put PNG to the sword, while JJ Smit walked in to replace his captain. Smit only faced 13 balls, but scored an unbeaten 42 runs which included three fours and four sixes.
The formidable Namibian total of 249/3 in twenty overs required PNG to bat at a run-rate of 12.5 per over. However, they were restricted to 165 for nine, with Karl Birkenstock taking an outstanding 4/33 in four overs.