Hawks announce Baartman signing for Vitality Blast
By Connor Steel
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS have announced the signing of experienced South African fast bowler Ottneil Baartman for their concluding six group matches of the upcoming ‘Vitality Blast’; the seamer replacing Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq in the team after he pulled out of the proposed move to the Ulitia Bowl last week citing “unavoidable personal circumstances”.
The 31-year-old right armer will make his ‘debut’ for Hampshire against Middlesex on July 6 before visiting Sussex and Surrey away from home. He is further due to feature in matches versus Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Essex with his contract likely to be extended if the Hawks progress to the knockout stages; including the quarter finals and Finals Day.
Baartman has also been named in the South African team for this year’s Twenty-20 ‘World Cup’ across the West Indies and United States of America; which starts on June 1. The nation are arguably favourites to get Group D top spot when the competition starts as they will play Nepal, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh for a place in the ‘quarter finals’.
This development comes after two years of consistent success for Baartman in South Africa’s domestic short franchise competition in which he has won the title with Sunrisers Eastern Cape over two years. He finished as the competition’s second-leading wicket taker in 2024 as he took eighteen wickets at the accurate economy rate of 6.95 per six-ball over.
The bowler stated online that he was “really looking forward to joining with Hampshire Hawks for my first experience of county cricket” and that he heard “great things about the atmosphere at Utilita Bowl”. Meanwhile the Director of Cricket, Giles White, outlined that it was a “great boost that Ottniel is available and happy to join” and he “fits this role perfectly”.
Readers can see further information and career statistics for Baartman on this link, whilst all of Hampshire’s Twenty-20 Vitality Blast fixtures, ticket availablity, news, and future club membership updates can be seen via their official website.
PICTURED BY SA20: Baartman prepares to bowl an over of seam as he helped team become champions in February.
