Hugely important win over Emirates
Namibia finally broke the stranglehold that the United Arab Emirates had held over them in six ODI clashes since 2020, winning their one-day international at the Dubai International Stadium by seven wickets on Saturday.
The hugely important win for Namibia in the ICC World Cup League Two puts them back as narrow favourites to hang on to third place to secure direct entry into the World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe later this year.
The Richelieu Eagles – coming off five straight losses on tour against Nepal, Scotland and the Emirates – restricted the home side to 166/9 in their 50 overs before replying with 167/3 with 130 balls remaining.
Number 3 batsman Michael van Lingen scored 71 not out off 53 balls (10x4 1x6) to earn the player of the match award, while opener Lo-han Louwrens was caught behind on 47 off 59 balls (6x4).
After their 36th and last match in World Cup League Two (2019-2023), Namibia finish on 39 points to hold on to their third position.
The Eagles will now have to wait and see whether they might be overtaken by the Emirates (28 points, ten matches remaining) or Nepal (26 points, eight matches remaining).
Earlier, Emirates captain Chundangapoyil Rizwan held their innings together with 60 not out off 140 balls, with only two fours. The 26 extras from the Namibian bowlers, including 21 wides, were the second-highest score.
Bernard Scholtz (1/15) gave the batsmen nothing to work with in his ten overs, while other wickets were divided between Ruben Trumpelmann (1/234 in 10), Ben Shikongo (2/27 in 7), Tangeni Lungameni (2/25 in 8), Shaun Fouché (1/29 in 7), and Gerhard Erasmus (2/23 in 6).
Van Lingen on attack
Captain Gerhard Erasmus said: "It’s been a tough time for us on tour. It’s nice to come away with a win and restore some pride and some of the culture of what we are about as a team.
"I don’t feel that we capitulated when results went against us. The team stuck together, so I’m very happy for the boys. We played quite well in the Emirates despite the struggles with injuries and having to replace some experienced guys," he said.
"It was also good to see Michael van Lingen scoring on a bowling wicket at that rate, which no other batsman could achieve in the two matches."
Van Lingen played aggressively from ball one, which he hit straight over the bowler’s head for four.
He said: "I had deliberately decided (after our previous match) to up the tempo, hit the ball harder and place the pressure on the bowlers. Fortunately, it worked out. I came in at a nice time with the ball still new, with spinners bowling but the ball not spinning. I decided to attack them and hit the ball as straight as possible."
Opposition
With two more triangular tournaments to go and the UAE playing both, the Emirates will need six wins from eight matches (or five plus a tie) to get past Namibia.
"First tiebreaker in League 2 is most wins, so Namibia have the advantage over the UAE there. Nepal are also in the hunt for third, needing 7 wins from 8. PNG (positioned 7th) can only play spoiler," Dutch cricket journalist Bertus de Jongh laid out on Twitter.
"Under current rules, fifth place guarantees ODI status for the next cycle. If the UAE have a bad run, they could also still wind up sixth. They still need 7 points to get past the States, as the USA have the better head-to-head record."
The hugely important win for Namibia in the ICC World Cup League Two puts them back as narrow favourites to hang on to third place to secure direct entry into the World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe later this year.
The Richelieu Eagles – coming off five straight losses on tour against Nepal, Scotland and the Emirates – restricted the home side to 166/9 in their 50 overs before replying with 167/3 with 130 balls remaining.
Number 3 batsman Michael van Lingen scored 71 not out off 53 balls (10x4 1x6) to earn the player of the match award, while opener Lo-han Louwrens was caught behind on 47 off 59 balls (6x4).
After their 36th and last match in World Cup League Two (2019-2023), Namibia finish on 39 points to hold on to their third position.
The Eagles will now have to wait and see whether they might be overtaken by the Emirates (28 points, ten matches remaining) or Nepal (26 points, eight matches remaining).
Earlier, Emirates captain Chundangapoyil Rizwan held their innings together with 60 not out off 140 balls, with only two fours. The 26 extras from the Namibian bowlers, including 21 wides, were the second-highest score.
Bernard Scholtz (1/15) gave the batsmen nothing to work with in his ten overs, while other wickets were divided between Ruben Trumpelmann (1/234 in 10), Ben Shikongo (2/27 in 7), Tangeni Lungameni (2/25 in 8), Shaun Fouché (1/29 in 7), and Gerhard Erasmus (2/23 in 6).
Van Lingen on attack
Captain Gerhard Erasmus said: "It’s been a tough time for us on tour. It’s nice to come away with a win and restore some pride and some of the culture of what we are about as a team.
"I don’t feel that we capitulated when results went against us. The team stuck together, so I’m very happy for the boys. We played quite well in the Emirates despite the struggles with injuries and having to replace some experienced guys," he said.
"It was also good to see Michael van Lingen scoring on a bowling wicket at that rate, which no other batsman could achieve in the two matches."
Van Lingen played aggressively from ball one, which he hit straight over the bowler’s head for four.
He said: "I had deliberately decided (after our previous match) to up the tempo, hit the ball harder and place the pressure on the bowlers. Fortunately, it worked out. I came in at a nice time with the ball still new, with spinners bowling but the ball not spinning. I decided to attack them and hit the ball as straight as possible."
Opposition
With two more triangular tournaments to go and the UAE playing both, the Emirates will need six wins from eight matches (or five plus a tie) to get past Namibia.
"First tiebreaker in League 2 is most wins, so Namibia have the advantage over the UAE there. Nepal are also in the hunt for third, needing 7 wins from 8. PNG (positioned 7th) can only play spoiler," Dutch cricket journalist Bertus de Jongh laid out on Twitter.
"Under current rules, fifth place guarantees ODI status for the next cycle. If the UAE have a bad run, they could also still wind up sixth. They still need 7 points to get past the States, as the USA have the better head-to-head record."
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article