The Namibian Eagles’ hopes of progressing to the final Cricket World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe are hanging by a thread after they lost by 28 runs to the UAE on Sunday.
UAE’s win put them at the top of the log with the United States on six points each and in pole position to claim the two qualifying spots, ahead of the play-off’s final round of matches that start today. Namibia, on four points, take on Canada in their final group match at the Wanderers field today, and although they have a mathematical chance of finishing among the top two, their chances are very slim.
They will have to beat Canada (also on four points) by a clear margin and improve their nett run rate, and hope that UAE lose their final match against Jersey tomorrow. That, however, is rather unlikely as Jersey are second last on the log with only one win, while they also face a tough match against log leaders USA at the United field today.
On Sunday, Namibia won the toss and sent UAE in to bat, but the visitors got off to a solid start, as Aryan Lakra and captain Muhammad Waseem put on 49 runs for the first wicket. Karl Birkenstock got the breakthrough, dismissing Waseem leg before wicket (LBW) for 23, and when Pikky ya France bowled Lakra for 24 and Bernard Scholtz dismissed Rameez Shahzad for 4, Namibia were well-placed, with the score at 75/3 by 20 overs.
UAE’s 20-year-old batter Vriitya Aravind and Asif Khan, however, swung the match their way with a 160-run partnership to put the UAE well in control.
Both batters narrowly missed out on reaching their centuries with Khan run out for 96, which came off 86 balls (6×4, 5×6), while Aravind remained 93 not out, and with Rohan Mustafa scoring a rapid 16 at the end, they reached a sizeable total of 267/5.
Most of Namibia’s bowlers suffered, but Scholtz (1/24 off 10 overs) and Ya France (1/32 off 10) did well to keep the run rate down.
In reply, Namibia lost Niko Davin early on for 1, but Shaun Fouche (47 off 60 balls, 6×4, 1×6) and Michael van Lingen (34off 35, 4×4, 1×6) revived the innings with an 80-run partnership.
They were, however, both dismissed in quick succession, with the total at 85/3 and the momentum gradually swung UAE’s way, as they bogged Namibia’s middle order down.
Nicol Loftie-Eaton was dismissed for 19, but when Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus was stumped for 30 off 41 balls (2×4), Namibia’s challenge started to fade.
Namibia’s lower order all made handy contributions with Karl Birkenstock scoring 31, Ruben Trumpelmann 28, Pikky Ya France 14 and Bernard Scholtz 19 not out, but they were always behind the run rate and were eventually all out for 239.
Zahoor Khan (3/59) and Rohan Mustafa (3/34) were UAE’s best bowlers.
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