CCD Tigers push towards final berth

The batting experience of former Namibian opener Stephen Baard has been a big factor in CCD Tigers’ rise to second place on Cricket Namibia’s 50-over premier league.

Over the last two weekends, the Tigers have overtaken WHS Old Boys by beating them, as well as adding a win against Trustco United on Sunday.

United will be disappointed in their overall batting effort at the Wanderers field on Saturday, when they were bowled out for just 93 runs in 28.3 overs.

Besides Michael van Lingen (27 off 32 balls, two fours) and Chris Freeman (21 off 33 balls, 1x4), no other United batsman reached double figures, in the absence of their usual stalwart Handre Klazinga.

CCD’s opening bowler Ben Shikongo stamped his authority on proceedings with four wickets for 24 in 9 overs – removing Freeman, Christian Schumacher (0), Nico Pieters (1) and Dickson Vambe (5) from the middle order.

National junior team seam bowler Junior Kariata, fresh from his return from the U19 World Cup, made the first breakthrough, trapping Hendrik van der Walt LBW for 3 and Michael Müller caught behind for 5, to finish with 2/15 in 5 overs.

CCD captain Nicol Loftie-Eaton got the wicket of Van Lingen by bowling him out.

Chasing the small target of 94, Stephen Baard wasted little time in getting CCD Tigers over the finish line after just 18 overs. Baard raced to 74 not out off 65 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes on the way.

The previous weekend against WHS Old Boys, Baard scored a century (146 off 124 balls, 13x4 4x6) as they overpowered the blue jerseys by 130 runs.

Baard has now opened up a lead as the front-runner among the run-scorers in Cricket Namibia’s 50-over premier league:

1 Stephen Baard (CCD Tigers), 220 runs in two innings

2 Lohan Louwrens (Wanderers), 183 runs in two innings.

3 JC Balt (Wanderers), 90 runs in two innings.

4 Handre Klazinga (United), 83 runs in two innings.

5 Karl Birkenstock (Wanderers), 64 runs in two innings.

6 Niko Davin (Wanderers), 63 runs in one innings.

7 JJ Smit (Wanderers), 51 runs in two innings.



TOP WICKET-TAKERS

1 Ben Shikongo (CCD), 7 wickets in 2 innings.

2 Tangeni Lungameni (WHS Old Boys), 5 wickets in 2 innings.

3 Handre Klazinga (United), 5 wickets in 2 innings.

4 Nicol Loftie-Eaton (CCD), 4 wickets in 2 innings.

5 Malan Kruger (WHS Old Boys), 4 wickets in 3 innings.

6 Henry Grant (WHS Old Boys), 4 wickets in 3 innings.

7 Christiaan Schumacher (United), 4 wickets in 3 innings.

• UPCOMING fixtures (at Wanderers field):

Saturday 10 February: Wanderers v CCD Tigers.

Sunday 11 February: Trustco United v WHS Old Boys.