Eagles triumph at African qualification tourney

After winning their first three matches in Johannesburg against Tanzania, Ghana and Botswana, the Namibian cricket team won the Pepsi ICC T20 African Division Qualifiers for the 2016 World Cup in India courtesy of an emphatic 30-run victory in a do or die last encounter against Kenya on Tuesday in South Africa.

The win meant that the Eagles moved past the Kenyan team, who were without a single loss, to top the log on eight points from five matches, just ahead of Kenya, who also finished on eight points, on net run rate.
In the match against Kenya, the team surely stepped up to the plate. The team posted an impressive total of 166/9 after 20 overs, where Craig Williams played a pivotal roll by cracking 61 runs off 48 balls.
Not to be out done, the Eagles, Gerhard Erasmus scored a quick 41 runs off 27 deliveries. In response, Kenya were only able to post 136/8 in their 20 overs.
Namibia had laid a good foundation as they hammered Ghana by 90 runs in their opening match last week. Scoring a solid 157/4 after 20 overs proved too much for the West Africans. Gerrie Snyman was outstanding for the Eagles as he scored 45 off 27 balls, while JP Kotze smashed 40 off 18 balls.
In reply Ghana could only muster 67/6 in their 20 overs. Spin bowler Bernhard Scholtz led the attack with 2/8 in his 4 overs. The very next day Botswana would suffer the same fate as the Namibian neighbours were beat with 61 runs. Snyman proved that his remarkable achievement against Ghana was not a one-day fluke.
He again scored an impressive score of 59 off 30 balls, helping his team to post a strong 149/5. Botswana were then bowled out for a mere 88 thanks to an all round bowling performance by the team. Two wickets a piece for JJ Smit, Sarel Burger, Gerrie Snyman and Bernhard Scholtz was enough to get the Namibians home.
They continued their strong performances on Sunday, beating Tanzania by 42 runs. Namibia put on 142 runs thanks to a 68 off 55 by Raymond van Schoor. In response Tanzania could only put together 100/9 in their 20 overs.
Louis Klazinga and Craig Williams each taking 3 wickets.
Meanwhile the triumphant victory by the Eagles meant that The top teams at this tournament will qualify for the 2016 T20 World Cup which will be held in India in March and April 2016.
The Namibian team will now play against the other 13 regional qualifiers at the next qualifying round starting 6 July in Scotland and Ireland. From the 14 teams, the top 6 qualifiers will progress to the next round, where they will meet the 9th and 10th ranked Full Members in the ICC T20I Championship table as on 30 April 2014.