Namibia back to winning ways

Namibia got back to winning ways when they beat Free State by five wickets in their 50-over Cricket South Africa match at the United field on Sunday.

On Saturday Namibia crashed to a huge defeat against the same opponents, but on Sunday their young team showed great resolve to come back and snatch a morale-boosting victory.

After being sent in to bat, Free State scored 240 for six wickets off their 50 overs, but Namibia reached the winning total with 27 balls to spare.

In Free State’s innings, Namibia’s opening bowlers did well to keep the run rate down and Tiaan Snyman struck with two early wickets to leave Free State reeling at 27 for two after 10 overs.

With Bokang Mokena leading their revival, Free State however recovered, as they reached 96 for three wickets by the halfway mark.

Mokena was dismissed by JJ Smit for 51, but Leus du Plooy and Romano Terblanche put Free State in charge. They put on 86 runs for the fifth wicket before SJ Loftie Eaton bowled Terblanche for 51. Du Plooy remained not out on 76 as Free State reached 240 for six wickets off their 50 overs.

In Namibia’s innings, Namibia lost the wickets of Xander Pitchers (10) and Stephan Baard (11) early on, but a 128-run partnership between Zane Green and Craig Williams put them on course for victory.

Williams reached his 50 off 49 balls, while Green reached his 50 off 72 balls, as they took the total to 150 for two by the 28th over.

Williams was eventually out for 67 off 65 balls, which included seven fours and three sixes, while Green was out for 60 off 94 balls, which included seven fours.

They were well set and further strong contributions by JP Kotze (24) and Nicolaas Scholtz (32 not out) saw Namibia easily reaching the winning target of 241/5 with 27 balls remaining.

On Saturday Free State completed an emphatic victory as they thrashed Namibia by an innings and 66 runs in their Sunfoil 3-Day Cup match.

Leus du Plooy was the hero for Free State, scoring 181 runs as they amassed 420 for eight wickets declared, before skittling Namibia out for 86 and 286 runs in their two innings’.

Free State won the toss and elected to bat and Namibia’s bowlers initially did well to restrict them to 39 for three wickets.

Christopher Coombe dismissed Thabo Masheshemane for 9 and Bernard Scholtz dismissed Andries Gous (15) and Obus Pienaar (0) within four balls.

That was the only joy Namibia had though, as Free State, led by Du Plooy took charge.

He shared a century stand with Bokang Mosena before the latter was dismissed by Tiaan Snyman for 76, and then put on a 92-run partnership with Romano Terblanche, who was dismissed off Snyman’s bowling for 56 off 57 balls.

Free State continued to plunder the runs as Corne Dry scored 51 off 55 balls before being dismissed by Nicolaas Scholtz, while Du Plooy was the last man out, caught off Bernard Scholtz’ bowling for 181 off 313 balls, which included 15 fours and three sixes.

In Namibia’s first innings, their batsmen crumbled under Free State’s pace attack led by Corne Dry and Duanne Olivier.

Olivier bowled Stephan Baard for 19, and when Dry struck with two wickets off successive balls (Zane Green 6 and Raymond van Schoor 0), Namibia were struggling at 50 for three wickets.

Xander Pitchers went on to top score with 33 but he received little help as the whole team was dismissed for a paltry 86 runs.

Olivier was the destroyer in chief, taking five wickets for 29 runs off 11 overs, while Dry took three wickets for 13 off 9,3 overs.

Namibia’s batsmen put up a better show in the second innings, but by then the result was beyond doubt.

Stephan Baard and Xander Pitchers put on 43 for the opening wicket before Baard was out for 24, but Pitchers went on to reach his half century before being bowled by Dry.

There were also good contributions by Raymond van Schoor who was bowled by Dry for 32 and JP Kotze, who was run out for 41, while Nicolaas Scholtz top scored with 78 runs from 97 balls, including 10 fours and one six.

The wickets however tumbled regularly and Namibia were eventually all out for 268, as Free State completed an emphatic victory by an innings and 66 runs.

Romano Terblanche, who took three wickets for 35 runs was Free State’s top bowler.