Sting in the Vipers’ tail

THE Namibian cricket team suffered two narrow defeats against the visiting Bangladeshis this weekend, earning themselves a reputation as heroic run-getters when their backs are to the wall.

Yesterday, Bangladesh effectively sliced up the home team’s middle order to go 2-0 up in the one-day internationals matches played at Wanderers on Saturday and United yesterday, both in brilliant sunshine. Namibia, known as the Vipers, lost yesterday’s match by 12 runs and Saturday’s result was even closer, with the home team going down by seven runs.Both losses were largely due to Bangladesh’s crippling of the Namibian middle order.On Saturday, the Namibians were chasing a tally of 261 after the visitors won the toss.Bangladesh were 261/6 after their allotted 50 overs, but Namibia could not reach the target as their middle order was wrecked early on, leaving them seven runs short on 254 from their 50 overs.Despite some superb batting from Namibian captain Deon Kotze (77 not out), the Namibians fell short of the needed runs after a good start by openers Jan Berrie Burger and Riaan Walters who shared a partnership of 96.Burger got out for 57 runs, with Walters for 39.Tapash Baishya took 3/53 in nine overs, and Mohammad Rafique, who toured Namibia with the side last year before the Cricket World Cup in South Africa, also took three wickets – for the loss of 43 runs – from his 10 overs.The pair responsible for Namibia’s downfall on Saturday are expected to lead the attack in the next matches lined up between the two countries.Young Namibian sensation Hugo Ludik, who is only 24 years of age, was out for 26 after coming in at No. 6 to assist Kotze who ended the match as the highest-scoring batsman on the day.The danger man on the Bangladeshi batting front was Abdul Sarker, who garnered 76 runs, while former captain Khaled Mahmud notched up a cool 65 runs before being dismissed by fast bowler Bjorn Kotze.Kotze took 2/61 from 10 overs, with J. B. Burger snared 2/56 from nine overs to end up as Namibia’s top bowlers.For Bangladesh, Khondoker Saleh was also in the thick of things, heading to the pavilion with just over half a century (51) to his credit.Namibia got off to a good start, scoring 105 runs from 15 overs with the loss of one wicket, but the departure of both Walters and Burger flung the doors wide open to the visitors as they launched a vicious attack on the home side’s middle-ranking batsmen.The third and final one-dayer between the two sides is on Wednesday at Wanderers.A three-day match follows at the same venue later in the week (from Friday until Sunday).Namibia, known as the Vipers, lost yesterday’s match by 12 runs and Saturday’s result was even closer, with the home team going down by seven runs. Both losses were largely due to Bangladesh’s crippling of the Namibian middle order. On Saturday, the Namibians were chasing a tally of 261 after the visitors won the toss. Bangladesh were 261/6 after their allotted 50 overs, but Namibia could not reach the target as their middle order was wrecked early on, leaving them seven runs short on 254 from their 50 overs. Despite some superb batting from Namibian captain Deon Kotze (77 not out), the Namibians fell short of the needed runs after a good start by openers Jan Berrie Burger and Riaan Walters who shared a partnership of 96. Burger got out for 57 runs, with Walters for 39. Tapash Baishya took 3/53 in nine overs, and Mohammad Rafique, who toured Namibia with the side last year before the Cricket World Cup in South Africa, also took three wickets – for the loss of 43 runs – from his 10 overs. The pair responsible for Namibia’s downfall on Saturday are expected to lead the attack in the next matches lined up between the two countries. Young Namibian sensation Hugo Ludik, who is only 24 years of age, was out for 26 after coming in at No. 6 to assist Kotze who ended the match as the highest-scoring batsman on the day. The danger man on the Bangladeshi batting front was Abdul Sarker, who garnered 76 runs, while former captain Khaled Mahmud notched up a cool 65 runs before being dismissed by fast bowler Bjorn Kotze. Kotze took 2/61 from 10 overs, with J. B. Burger snared 2/56 from nine overs to end up as Namibia’s top bowlers. For Bangladesh, Khondoker Saleh was also in the thick of things, heading to the pavilion with just over half a century (51) to his credit. Namibia got off to a good start, scoring 105 runs from 15 overs with the loss of one wicket, but the departure of both Walters and Burger flung the doors wide open to the visitors as they launched a vicious attack on the home side’s middle-ranking batsmen. The third and final one-dayer between the two sides is on Wednesday at Wanderers. A three-day match follows at the same venue later in the week (from Friday until Sunday).