The Namibian Richelieu Eagles suffered their third consecutive defeat in their Tri-Nations home series on Sunday, after going down by seven wickets to the United States.
That was their second successive defeat against the USA on their home turf at the United ground, while another one-wicket defeat against the UAE last Friday has left them empty handed with just one more match remaining against the UAE on Thursday.
Before the series started, Namibia were lying fourth on the Cricket World Cup League 2 log and eyeing to close the gap on the early log leaders, but in stead it is the USA that has moved up to third position, while Namibia has now dropped down to fifth.
The eight-nation tournament forms part of the qualification pathway for the next 50-over world cup that Namibia will co-host in 2027, and although it is still early days in the eight-nation competition, Namibia’s failure to gain points on their home turf could still come back to haunt them.
On Sunday, Namibia were comprehensively outplayed by the United States, who beat them by seven wickets with five overs to spare.
Namibia posted a competitive total of 286 runs for nine wickets off their 50 overs, but the USA’s batters were up to the task and easily reached the target for the loss of only three wickets.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Namibia suffered an early setback when JP Kotze was dismissed for a duck, but Michael van Lingen and Zane Green revived Namibia’s innings with an 80-run partnership off only 10 overs.
At 84/1 Namibia were well set to build a big score but the USA regained the initiative with three quick wickets.
Van Lingen was caught on the boundary for 67 which came off only 44 balls (12×4, 2×6), while Shadley van Schalkwyk dismissed Green (17) and Malan Kruger (1) in quick succession as Namibia were reduced to 88/4.
The USA turned up the pressure with some tight bowling and when Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus was trapped lbw by Yasir Mohammad for 17, Namibia were struggling with only 117 runs on the board half way through their innings.
Nicol Loftie-Eaton, however, joined JJ Smit to revive the innings with an 85-run partnership off 15 overs, but Van Schalkwyk once again broke the partnership when he dismissed Loftie-Eaton for 49 off 47 balls (4×4, 3×6).
Smit was eventually run out for 60, but there were good contributions from Dylan Leicher (32) and Bernard Scholtz further down the order as Namibia reached 286/9.
Van Schalkwyk was the USA’s stand-out bowler, taking four wickets for 59 runs off ten overs.
In the USA’s innings, Namibian ODI debutant Dylan Leicher, dismissed Smit Patel for nine runs, but led by an aggressive Andries Gous, the visitors soon took control of the match.
He went on to score 81 of 68 balls (6×4, 5×6) before being dismissed by Loftie-Eaton, while another Namibian debutant PD Blignaut dismissed Monank Patel for 31, but Saiteja Mukkamalla (79 not out) and Milind Kumar (74 not out) took the USA to victory with an unbeaten 142-run partnership.
That result saw the USA moving into third position on the log on 10 points, behind the Netherlands on 12, while Canada moved to the top of the log on 14 points after beating Nepal by five wickets in Ontario on Sunday.
Namibia, meanwhile, have now dropped down to fifth position on eight points, while Oman (5), Nepal (2) and UAE (2) make up the rear.
The USA takes on the UAE at the United ground today, starting at 09h30, while Namibia’s final match in their home series is against the UAE on Thursday.
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