Windhoek, Namibia – The national senior cricket team of Namibia, known as ‘The Eagles,’ is making significant strides towards qualifying for the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup. Following their third consecutive win on Saturday, the team’s prospects of securing a spot in the prestigious tournament, to be hosted by the United States of America and the West Indies from June 4 to 30, 2024, are increasingly promising.
According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Final 2023 is currently taking place in Windhoek, Namibia. This tournament features seven nations vying for the top two positions, which would ensure their participation in next year’s World Cup. The Eagles have showcased remarkable skill and determination, winning their first three matches of the competition held at the Wanderers Sports Field in Pioneers Park on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Namibia’s cricket team has been dominant since the competition’s onset, displaying a strong performance with minimal weaknesses. They achieved an impressive victory over Zimbabwe on Wednesday and secured a six-wicket win against Uganda. Their latest triumph came on Saturday when they overpowered Rwanda by 68 runs, utilizing the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method at the Wanderers Cricket Ground.
Key player Nikolaas Davin continued his exceptional form, scoring 80 runs from 59 balls. Michael van Lingen also contributed significantly, scoring rapidly in the initial overs. Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit further bolstered the team’s score, with Frylinck remaining unbeaten at 45 runs from 28 balls and Smit scoring an unbeaten 30 runs off 10 balls, including five sixes. This collective effort led Namibia to a strong total of 207 for three in their 20 overs.
Rwanda struggled in response, losing two wickets in the opening overs and only managing a score of three for three by the end of the second over. As it stands, Namibia and Kenya are tied with six points each after three matches. However, Namibia currently leads the log standings due to their superior performance. The next crucial match for Namibia is against Kenya, scheduled for Monday.