JC Balt earns Wanderers Sportsman of the Year

Cricket
Five APS Wanderers players made senior national team selection during the past season.
Andrew Poolman
  • 12 Hours Ago

The all-rounder JC Balt was honoured as Sportsman of the Year when APS Wanderers Cricket Club held its year-end function at the club on Saturday night.

The tall 22-year-old Balt, a left-handed top-order batsman who also bowls right-arm off-break spin, was also walked away with the prize as best batsman for Wanderers’ premier league side.

In the combined stats for the 50-over and T20 premier leagues of Cricket Namibia, Balt’s eleven innings produced 317 runs at an average of 28.82, while he passed the fifty mark on three occasions.

In February this year, he was in Namibia’s squad to the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Balt also represented the FNB Eagles in the just concluded FNB T20 Tri-Series against South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as the ODIs against the Proteas.

• Former national team all-rounder Karl Birkenstock (age 30) stepped up in a player-coach role at Wanderers during the past season, with Riaan Minnie as assistant coach.

Commonly known as one of the fittest players around, Birkenstock earned the players’ player of the season award, best fielder for the first team, as well as the most dedicated player across all leagues.

• Eighteen-year-old all-rounder Waldo Smith, on the same day as making his ODI debut for the FNB Eagles against the Proteas, walked away with two awards – Most improved player (all leagues) as well as Best junior (schoolboy) player.

• Wanderers’ first team lost two competitive finals in the T20 and 50-over premier leagues, both against arch-rivals ATG WHS Old Boys. However, the second team secured both the T20 and 40-over league titles.


Other award winners included:

Premier league, best bowler: Nyasha Nyashadzaishe, 15 wickets in 63 overs, economy 5.83.

Premier league, best all-rounder: JJ Smit, ten matches, 297 runs, 11 wickets.

Premier League Two: Danie van Schoor (best batsman and best all-rounder), JP Blignaut (best bowler), Wessel Myburgh (best fielder).

First division (third team): Johre Botha (best batsman and best all-rounder), Michau Hugo (best bowler), Dian Holland-Muter (best fielder).

National team selection: JC Balt, Jan Frylinck, Bernard Scholtz, JJ Smit, Waldo Smith.

Namibia U19 selection: Tiaan van der Merwe.

Merit award for century: Tiaan van der Merwe 161 off 142 balls, vs ATG WHS Old Boys in a 50-over premier league match at Wanderers on 07 February 2026.

Most loyal supporter: André Smith.

Administrator of the year: Juanné Engelbrecht.

Chairman’s Award: Tommie van der Merwe.

Most ducks (all leagues): shared between Wessel Myburgh and Karl Birkenstock (two each).

Spray-Gun Award (most wides conceded): Douglas Truter (nine in 4 overs).

Jacques Fryer award for fielding excellence: Steven Delport.

• Sponsors of Wanderers Cricket Club in the past season were Africa Personnel Services (APS), Furntech Agencies, Kleen Tek Waste Management and ACT Logistics.