• Cricket

FNB Eagles dominate Canada in first ODI

• 15 Hours Ago

The FNB Eagles will be determined to take on Scotland in a crucial ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 match today, hoping to build on their winning performance on Wednesday

Player of the match Jan Frylinck scored his first century in his 46th one-day international, steering Namibia to an ultimately comfortable win by five wickets against hosts Canada in the first ODI of the triangular series in King City.

The experienced 31-year-old stayed composed after the FNB Eagles fell to 23/3 in 8.1 overs – losing debutant Willem Myburgh (0), JP Kotzé (3) and captain Gerhard Erasmus (2) in their chase of Canada’s 219 all out in 49.1 overs.

Frylinck hit 12 fours by the time he unfortunately chopped a Jaskaran Singh delivery onto his stumps after 47.5 overs, walking back in frustration after an excellent knock of 114 off 146 balls, when Namibia only needed another four runs to win.

The left-handed batsman Frylinck was dropped on 89 by Canada captain Nicholas Kirton, but reached his hundred with a thick outside edge past the keeper for four. He overtook his previous highest ODI score of 73 – one of five 50s in his career of 45 ODIs.

The 21-year-old Dylan Leicher – playing in only his fourth ODI – stuck around for his first fifty at this level. His patient 58 runs off 107 balls contained only one four and one six, but the partnership of 151 runs with Frylinck for the fourth wicket was exactly what the team needed under the circumstances.

Broadcast commentators praised Frylinck for a “top knock”. “Masterful pacing of an innings, especially in the context of this match. He never looked like he felt scoreboard pressure, as Namibia kept wickets in hand.”

After Leicher’s departure, JJ Smit smacked two sixes, ending unbeaten on 25* off 17 balls alongside his fellow finisher Nicol Loftie-Eaton (3* off 2).

Without their main strike bowler Dillon Heyliger, too many singles were on offer for Namibia, who will nevertheless brace themselves for an even more competitive contest against Scotland.



Earlier, Canada were restricted from 72 for one, to 140/7, before a solid recovery by their later batsmen. Opener Ali Nadeem top-scored with 46 off 66 balls (3x4 2x6).

Eagles bowlers Tangeni Lungameni (3/51 in 10 overs), Nicol Loftie-Eaton (3/22 in 7.1 overs) and JJ Smit (2/43 in 10) made vital breakthroughs, while Bernard Scholtz sent down 37 dot balls (one maiden) in his ten overs for 1/33.

Left-arm pace bowler Ruben Trumpelmann was not at his very best, taking 1/60 in 10 overs.

The FNB Eagles will have a quick turnaround before their next match today (from 17:00 Namibian time) against a potent Scotland side that is currently placed overall third in the eight-team CWCL2 competition (24 points from 20 matches).

Despite Wednesday's two added log points, Namibia remain sixth and Canada fifth, on 16 and 20 points respectively.



Scotland gains former Kiwi international

Former New Zealand top-order batsman Tom Bruce could be seen in his new Scotland team colours at the CWCL2 matches in Canada.

Bruce, now 34, qualified to play for Scotland because of his Edinburgh-born father, represented a Scotland Development side in 2016, before moving to New Zealand.

Bruce represented New Zealand in 17 T20Is between 2017 and 2020. He was most recently in action for Central Districts at the Global Super League in Providence, Guyana.

Scotland’s squad also contain George Munsey, the leading run-scorer in the CWCL2 series with 894 runs in 15 innings (two hundreds; five fifties; average 59.60, strike rate 105.67).

Scotland’s player squad: Richie Berrington (captain), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross (wicketkeeper), Brad Currie, Josh Davey, Jasper Davidson, Chris Greaves, Jack Jarvis, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Charlie Tear (wicketkeeper), Mark Watt.