Tired World Cup finish for veterans in Guyana
Henry Hayes’ consistent batting at the International Masters Cricket Over-40s World Cup in Guyana has been a highlight for the Veterans Cricket Association of Namibia that made its debut with a 12-place finish.
Out of 15 competing teams, Hayes placed ninth on the overall individual run-scoring list (381 runs in nine innings; strike rate 125.7; highest 95 against Canada), while also adding nine wickets with right-arm medium bowling.
The total number of sixes the Green Mambas middle order batsman hit (20) placed him fifth on the tournament’s list. He also hit 40 fours.
On the tournament’s MVP rankings, Henry Hayes is listed seventh (43.7 points) behind Canada’s run-scoring machine Royston Crandon (71.1), Jason Mohamed (West Indies), Nitin Gosain (Canada), Steve Paulsen (Australia captain), Darren Stevens (England) and Kyle Coetzer (Scotland).
Team captain Gerrie Snyman concluded the tournament in 12th place on the batters’ list (342 runs in eight innings; three fifties; strike rate 117.5, 42 fours; 12 sixes), while also adding four wickets. Snyman placed 12th on the MVP ratings (37.13 points). Snyman’s highest batting score was 63 against Australia.
Nicolaas Buys concluded the tournament as Namibia’s leading wicket-taker (12), and in 13th place on the overall list. Buys also contributed 237 runs in eight innings (strike rate 84.0), with his highest 78 in the win over Wales.
FINISH IN 12TH PLACE
Namibia team concluded a tiring schedule of nine matches in 13 days at the World Cup on Friday.
In the play-off for 11th place out of the 15 teams in the tournament, the Namibians crossed paths with The Rest of the Caribbean on Friday.
The Rest of the Caribbean with 355/5 (45.0 overs) beat Namibia’s 181 all out (30.2 overs) by 174 runs.
A big partnership (180 runs) between Andrew Lyght Junior (153 off 94 balls; 18x4 5x6) and Johan Branch (72 off 61 balls; 7x4 3x6) quickly diminished Namibia’s winning chances.
Hugo Ludik (2/15 in 2 overs), as the eighth bowler Namibia used, finally managed to get Lyght out caught by Asad Abbas in the 44th over.
Facing a required run-rate of 7.91 at the start of their innings, Namibia soon lost Ankur Kathuria (1) and John Valentin (5). Captain Gerrie Snyman showed attacking intent, hitting three fours before getting caught for 15 off 7 balls.
Henry Hayes managed his fourth fifty of the tournament (50 off 38 balls; 9x4 1x6), but unfortunately got out caught soon afterwards.
The later batting resistance only came down to minor contributions by Nicolaas Buys (24 off 28 balls), Hugo Ludik (32 off 47 balls) and Jaco Schoonbee (23 off 26 balls).
TOURNAMENT’S FINAL RESULTS
CUP FINAL: Pakistan (282/9 in 44.5 overs) beat Australia (281/6 in 45 overs) by 1 wicket (with one ball remaining).
Bronze final: England (431 for 3) beat South Africa (153 all out in 30 overs) by 278 runs.
Fifth place playoff: West Indies (309/6 in 45 overs) beat India (264 all out in 44.4 overs) by 45 runs.
Seventh place playoff: Canada (209/8) beat USA (208/7) by two wickets (with four balls remaining).
Ninth place playoff: New Zealand (258/7) beat Scotland (151 all out) by 107 runs.
TEAM EFFORT
Sponsors that supported the Namibian tour were Nature Travel Africa, Powerline Africa, Namibian Tourism Board, Waldschmidt Eggs, Dulux Namibia, MR24, the Veterans Cricket Association of Namibia, Sport Wrap and Schoemans.
