Punjab on a (st)roll

Cricket
Tielman Van Lill
  • 2 Months Ago 04 July 2024
The Richelieu Eagles’ first 50-over match in the Castle Lite series against the touring Punjab Cricket Association team proved to be a tough one.

Although Alexander Volschenk and JP Kotzé digged deep in the morning session to establish a 76-run partnership for the fifth wicket, Namibia (173 all out in 41.3 overs) still suffered a 3-wicket defeat by Punjab (179/7 in 33).

The Indian tourists won the toss at Wanderers field in Windhoek yesterday and elected to bowl first on a spicy pitch that had some swing and bounce on offer.

The Namibians, led by Malan Kruger despite regular national captain Gerhard Erasmus being in the playing eleven, were quickly in stormy waters losing four batsmen for 43 runs in 10.1 overs.

Openers Lo-han Lourens (bowled for 2 runs) and Malan Kruger (lbw for 0) quickly fell victim to Brar Singh and Kaul Siddharth respectively.

Jan Frylinck enjoyed a good nick, hitting 27 from 35 balls (4x4) before he threw his wicket away.

A delivery from Sanvir Singh found the top edge of Erasmus’ bat, offering an easy catch for wicketkeeper Anmol Malhotra for seven runs off nine balls.



Response under pressure

From 43/3, Volschenk and Kotzé patiently built a 76-run partnership from 122 balls while Volschenk showcased his ability to play spin.

Volschenk, the junior Eagles captain at this year’s ICC Under-19 World Cup, played some beautiful shots scoring four fours and one six as he added 39 runs to the Eagles’ progress to 119/5 in 30.3 overs.

Kotzé was on 29 runs with Volschenk’s departure. However, in a tenacious display he went on to score 51 (74 b, 3x4, 1x6).

The rest of the Eagles’ batting line-up produced 28 runs, with the returning Shaun Fouché (11) the only to reach double figures, while Punjab contributed 28 extra runs towards Namibia’s total.



Sculpteers

Punjab bowlers Kaul Siddharth (3 wickets for 28 in 7 overs), Dhir Naman (3/14 in 2.3), Brar Singh (2/37 in 7), Sanvir Singh (1/9 in 4) and Brar Harpeet (1/32 in 8) were very economical with ball in hand.

The Namibian bowlers had a tough day at the office on a flattish pitch. Although Junior Kariata, another U19 World Cup player, had opener Pukhraj Mann (0) caught of his third delivery in the fourth over, the visitors went on scoring at leisure on their way to cross the winning target in 33 overs.

Simran Singh (18) followed in 4.3, Saharan Pratap (15) in 27.2, Anmol Malhotra (1) in 30.1 and Brar Harpeet (0) in 30.4.

Sanvir Singh (70, 79 b, 10x4) and Dhir Naman (61 off 64 b, 6x4, 1x6) top-scored for Punjab.

Punjab (20x4, 4x6) reached 100 in 22 and 171 in 30, while Namibia (12x4, 2x6) posted 100 in 25 and 119 in 30.

The wicket-takers for Namibia, Kariata (3/24 in 6), Tangeni Lungameni (2/31 in 8), Ben Shikongo (1/28 in 5) and PD Blignaut (1/30 in 3) struggled to keep Punjab’s scoring rate under control.

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