Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibian Fish Eagles completed their Cricket World Cup League 2 Tri-Nations series on a winning note with a six-wicket victory against the USA Bald Eagles on Saturday.
After suffering a comprehensive 71-run defeat to the USA in their first match on 20 November, Namibia responded in style as they restricted the USA to 211/7, before reaching 212/4 with five overs to spare.
It was the Eagles’ third victory out of four, including two wins against PNG, which saw them remaining fourth on the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 log, but closing in on the leaders.
Oman still lead the log on 44 points, followed by Scotland on 40 and the USA on 35, but Namibia have now moved up to 32 points, and with 10 matches in hand on Oman and the USA, they are well placed to finish amongst the top three, to progress to the final 2023 World Cup qualifier.
Against the USA on Saturday, JJ Smit and Bernard Scholtz each picked up three wickets as the USA was restricted to a manageable total.
In reply, all of Namibia’s top-order batsmen got amongst the runs, with Divan La Cock top-scoring with 59, as they comfortably reached the target with five overs to spare.
After being sent in to bat, Steven Taylor and Sushant Modani gave the USA a steady start, but three wickets in 16 balls swung the momentum Namibia’s way.
JJ Smit dismissed Steven Taylor caught behind for 9 and Monank Patel off a great catch by Nicol Loftie-Eaton for 4, and when Bernard Scholtz dismissed Sushant Modani for 26 and Aaron Jones for 12, the visitors were struggling at 63/4.
The USA’s middle order, however, revived the innings with Gajanand Singh scoring 36, Ian Holland 40 and Nosthush Kenjige 38 not out off 36 balls (2×4, 1×6) as they recovered to reach 211/7.
For Namibia, Smit took 3/35 off 10 overs and Scholtz 3/26 off 10.
In reply, all of Namibia’s top-order batsmen got amongst the runs as they steadily hauled in the target.
La Cock and Lohan Louwrens put on 56 for the opening wicket before the latter was out for 25, and when Ian Holland dismissed La Cock (59 off 84 balls, 7×4, 1×6) and Michael van Lingen (33 off 39, 4×4) in quick succession, with the total at 119/3, the USA were back in contention.
Gerhard Erasmus and Nicol Loftie-Eaton, however, put Namibia on course for victory with an 83-run partnership.
Erasmus was dismissed for 41 off 40 balls (2×4, 3×6), while Loftie-Eaton remained not out on 43 off 55 balls (6×4) as Namibia reached the winning target with 32 balls to spare.
Holland, with 2/36 off seven overs was the USA’s most successful bowler.
Scotland and Nepal, meanwhile, arrive in Windhoek tomorrow for the second Cricket World Cup League 2 Tri-Nations series which starts on Thursday, when Namibia take on Nepal.
After suffering a comprehensive 71-run defeat to the USA in their first match on 20 November, Namibia responded in style as they restricted the USA to 211/7, before reaching 212/4 with five overs to spare.
It was the Eagles’ third victory out of four, including two wins against PNG, which saw them remaining fourth on the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 log, but closing in on the leaders.
Oman still lead the log on 44 points, followed by Scotland on 40 and the USA on 35, but Namibia have now moved up to 32 points, and with 10 matches in hand on Oman and the USA, they are well placed to finish amongst the top three, to progress to the final 2023 World Cup qualifier.
Against the USA on Saturday, JJ Smit and Bernard Scholtz each picked up three wickets as the USA was restricted to a manageable total.
In reply, all of Namibia’s top-order batsmen got amongst the runs, with Divan La Cock top-scoring with 59, as they comfortably reached the target with five overs to spare.
After being sent in to bat, Steven Taylor and Sushant Modani gave the USA a steady start, but three wickets in 16 balls swung the momentum Namibia’s way.
JJ Smit dismissed Steven Taylor caught behind for 9 and Monank Patel off a great catch by Nicol Loftie-Eaton for 4, and when Bernard Scholtz dismissed Sushant Modani for 26 and Aaron Jones for 12, the visitors were struggling at 63/4.
The USA’s middle order, however, revived the innings with Gajanand Singh scoring 36, Ian Holland 40 and Nosthush Kenjige 38 not out off 36 balls (2×4, 1×6) as they recovered to reach 211/7.
For Namibia, Smit took 3/35 off 10 overs and Scholtz 3/26 off 10.
In reply, all of Namibia’s top-order batsmen got amongst the runs as they steadily hauled in the target.
La Cock and Lohan Louwrens put on 56 for the opening wicket before the latter was out for 25, and when Ian Holland dismissed La Cock (59 off 84 balls, 7×4, 1×6) and Michael van Lingen (33 off 39, 4×4) in quick succession, with the total at 119/3, the USA were back in contention.
Gerhard Erasmus and Nicol Loftie-Eaton, however, put Namibia on course for victory with an 83-run partnership.
Erasmus was dismissed for 41 off 40 balls (2×4, 3×6), while Loftie-Eaton remained not out on 43 off 55 balls (6×4) as Namibia reached the winning target with 32 balls to spare.
Holland, with 2/36 off seven overs was the USA’s most successful bowler.
Scotland and Nepal, meanwhile, arrive in Windhoek tomorrow for the second Cricket World Cup League 2 Tri-Nations series which starts on Thursday, when Namibia take on Nepal.
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