Hampshire Signs Ottniel Baartman for Vitality T20 Blast
Ottniel Baartman bowled 3. 3 overs, got four wickets, and gave only 12 runs in a Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs. Pretoria capitals at Gqeberha, South Africa on January 22, 2024. He also took the second most wickets for a player in the 2023-24 SA20 season. Hampshire has signed Ottniel Baartman, the South African fast bowler till the remaining Vitality Blast campaign. It has been reported that Baartman will be the man to take the place of Naveen-ul-Haq from Afghanistan who pulled out of the tournament due to personal issues.
Baartman, aged 31, has not played for his national team yet but was selected for South Africa’s T20 World Cup team and might have his first match during their upcoming series in the West Indies, which begins later this week. He was part of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape team, who won the SA20 championship consecutively, playing under Hampshire’s head coach Adi Birrell and alongside Liam Dawson.
Also Read: T20 Blast 2024: Hampshire’s Naveen-ul-Haq out for T20 Blast
Ottniel Baartman is a Hawk 🤩
The 31-year-old will be available for our final six Vitality Blast group matches 🤝
📰 Full story ⤵️
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) May 21, 2024
Baartman expressed his excitement about playing county cricket with Hampshire Hawks for the first time, mentioning his familiarity with Adi Birrell and Liam Dawson from the SA20. I’ve heard wonderful things about the ambiance at Utilita Bowl and I am excited to play in front of the Hawks fans this summer.
Baartman will replace Michael Neser as one of Hampshire’s overseas choices for the first eight Blast group games, alongside Ben McDermott. He will be able to participate in six matches in July, beginning with the match against Middlesex, and also in the knockout rounds in September if Hampshire advances.
Hampshire’s cricket director, Giles White, expressed how valuable it is for the team that Ottniel is ready and eager to join them post-World Cup. He is perfectly suited for the role and is coming off an exceptional domestic summer in South Africa.
Ottniel Baartman will feature for Hampshire in the back-half of the Vitality Blast in the UK after the T20 World Cup as a replacement for Naveen-ul-Haq pic.twitter.com/FwYbBE34fk
— Werner (@Werries_) May 21, 2024
