Namibia beat Griqualand West by three wickets after a great fight back on the final day of their SAA Challenge match in Kimberley on November 24.
After dismissing Griquas for 154 in their second innings, Namibia were left with a winning target of 244 to win the match. With the pressure on, they rose to the occasion and brilliant batting by Tatenda Taibu and Sarel Burger ensured their victory.
Griquas start strongly
In a match of swaying fortunes, Griquas initially held the upper hand after posting a 89-run first innings lead.
They declared their first innings at 355/9 with Adrian McLaren scoring 126 not out, R Hendricks 95 and A Kruger 55.
Namibiaâ??s wicket takers were Van Rooi (2/78 off 10 overs), Deon Kotze (2/60 off 12), Gerrie Snyman (1/41 off 15), Klazinga (1/62 off 9), Henno Prinsloo (1/32 off 8) and Nicolaas Scholtz (1/26 off 9).
Namibiaâ??s first innings started disastrously when Burden was bowled by Coetzee for 2, while Taibu followed soon after, caught off Holtzhauzenâ??s bowling for a duck.
The middle order, however, all contributed runs, with Sarel Burger scoring 27, Deon Kotze 37 and Gerrie Snyman 46 to take Namibiaâ??s score to 147/6.
The lower order made solid contributions, with Nicolaas Scholtz scoring 34 and Henno Prinsloo 29, before Ian van Zyl hit a quick 48 off 49 balls (7x4, 1x6). Burton van Rooi was out for 4, while Louis Klazinga was not out on 1 as Namibia were all out for 255.
Griquasâ?? top bowlers were F Holtzhausen (2/42), A Kruger (2/64), N Arthur (2/53) and D Donaldson (2/32).
Van Zyl makes breakthrough
In Griquasâ?? second innings Ian van Zyl made an early breakthrough, by dismissing C de Jager for 20, C Bennett for 30 and J Brooker for 3. Sarel Burger and Henno Prinsloo kept up the pressure with wickets at regular intervals as Griquasâ?? middle order collapsed to leave them reeling at 76/8.
Griquas however had a late revival with a 60-run ninth wicket partnership between Mclaren (41) and Mabuye (30) and they were eventually all out for 154 runs â?? a lead of 243.
Van Zyl (3 for 47 off 17 overs), Burger (3 for 41 off 20 overs) and Prinsloo (3 for 26 off 10 overs) were Namibiaâ??s top bowlers.
Great batting by Taibu, Burger
Namibiaâ??s second innings started disastrously when Coetzee bowled Ruhann Burden for a duck and Dawid Botha for 15.
Tatenda Taibu and Sarel Burger however swung the match Namibiaâ??s way with a brilliant 87-run partnership for the third wicket. Taibu was eventually bowled by Kruger for 93, which came off 176 balls and included 14 fours, while Burger was caught by Brooker off Coetzeeâ??s bowling for 76.
After their departure, Griquas fought their way back into the match with the wickets of Deon Kotze for 15, Gerrie Snyman for 17 and Nicolaas Scholtz for 10.
Henno Prinsloo (4 not out) and Ian van Zyl (5 not out) however held their nerve and reached the winning target to ensure a great victory for Namibia.
Coetzee was Griquasâ?? best bowler, taking 5 for 57 off 25 overs.
Namibia got 18 bonus points and Griquas 10.
The two teams will meet in a limited overs SAA Cup match on November 25.