Namibia’s winning streak halted

NAMIBIA’s winning run of four matches in the Cricket South Africa One Day Challenge came to an abrupt halt on Sunday when they suffered a 91-run defeat to Easterns at the Wanderers ground.

Easterns reached a commanding total of 257 for nine wickets off their 50 overs, and although Namibia had a good start in their run chase, they lost their last seven wickets for only 37 runs to be all out for 166.

It was a promising performance by a young Namibian team that included four debutants, but a devastating spell by Easterns spinner Tumelo Simelane gave the visitors a comfortable victory.

Namibia won the toss and sent Easterns in to bat – a decision that soon backfired, as Easterns’ openers Ernest Kemm and Wesley Marshall piled on the runs.

They shared a century opening partnership before Marshall was out LBW to Nicolaas Scholtz for a rapid 64 which came off 59 balls and included nine fours.

Some fine fielding by Scholtz in the next over saw Wesley Coulentianos being run out for a duck, but Daniel Sincuba joined Kemm to take the total to 204 before Sincuba was bowled by Ricardo Strauss for 34.

Kemm went on to reach his century and was eventually out for 110 which came off 136 balls, and included five fours and one six.

Namibia, led by pace bowler Tangeni Lungameni made a fine comeback in the final stages of Easterns’ innings.

Lungameni took three wickets in four balls, bowling Ruan Sadler (9), Clayton August (3) and David Mogotlane (0) in quick succession to restrict Easterns to 257 off their 50 overs.

Lungameni was Namibia’s best bowler, taking three wickets for 41 runs off eight overs, while Ricardo Strauss took 2/41 and Zhivago Groenewald 2/53.

Namibia’s reply got off to a steady start as all the top order batsmen reached double figures.

Xander Pitchers (19) and Wian van Vuuren (10) didn’t last long, but Michau du Preez and Jacques Fourie gave Namibia hope with a 57-run partnership.

Du Preez was eventually out for 51 which came off 62 balls and included three sixes and three fours, while Fourie was dismissed shortly after for 34 with the total on 129 after 30 overs.

With six wickets in hand, Namibia were still well in the hunt, but Easterns’ spinner Tumelo Simelane took matters into his own hands.

He dismissed Lohan Louwrens for 22 and then cut through Namibia’s lower order to dismiss the whole side for 166 off 41,2 overs.

Simelane was Easterns’ stand-out bowler, with fantastic figures of six wickets for 19 runs off 8,2 overs, enabling Easterns to claim a comfortable victory.

The result sees Easterns taking over at the top of the log in Pool B with 15 points from five matches, but Namibia are just behind in second place on 13 points with a match in hand.