Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIA comfortably beat Scotland by five wickets in their T20 World Cup warmup match in Dubai on Saturday, although they made it a bit difficult for themselves in the end.
They did well to restrict Scotland to 137/8 off their 20 overs and then seemed on course for an easy victory, but Scotland struck back with a few wickets, before Namibia reached 138/5 with 14 balls in hand.
After sending Scotland in to bat, Ruben Trumpelmann made the breakthrough, dismissing Kyle Coetzer (17) and Matthew Cross (0) off successive balls, and when JJ Smit bowled George Munsey for 17, Scotland had slumped to 21/3.
Richie Berrington and Craig Wallace led their revival with a 48-run fourth wicket partnership, before Bernard Scholtz dismissed the latter for 23. Berrington continued to attack the bowling but he received little support as Namibia kept up the pressure with regular wickets.
Berrington was eventually bowled by David Wiese for 61 off 46 balls (2×6, 4×4) as Scotland reached 137/8. For Namibia, Trumpelmann took 2/23, Jan Frylinck 2/24 and Wiese 2/38.
In Namibia’s innings, Zane Green was bowled for a golden duck by Josh Davey, but Craig Williams and Stephan Baard put Namibia in charge with a great partnership, putting on 93 runs at about 10 an over.
Williams was dismissed for 50 off 37 balls ((2×6, 7×4), and when Mark Watt dismissed Gerhard Erasmus (11) and Wiese (0) within three balls, Namibia’s total stood at 110 for four wickets down.
Michael Leask dismissed Baard for 39 off 41 balls (2×6, 2×4) to give Scotland a glimmer of hope with the total at 120/5, but JJ Smit took Namibia to victory, scoring 20 not out off 17 balls (1×6, 1×4).
Watt was Scotland’s best bowler, taking 2/11 off four overs. Namibia are now still unbeaten after three T20 World Cup warmup matches, with their next one coming up against PNG on Sunday.
