Ireland comfortably beat Namibia by seven wickets in their ICC World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, but Namibia still have a slight chance of reaching the second round of the competition following Oman’s sensational one-wicket victory against Uganda.
Oman’s victory means that Namibia, Oman and Uganda have all finished joint fourth in their group with two points each and the team with the best run rate of the three will now progress to the second round. The official result is still pending although Cricinfo’s website put Namibia at the top of the three with the best run rate.
Against Ireland, Namibia’s top order found Ireland’s bowling too hot to handle as they crashed to 66/6 after only 20 overs. Of the top order batsmen, only Raymond van Schoor (13) and Sarel Burger could reach double figures.
Nicolaas Scholtz, came in at number six, started Namibia’s revival with a patient innings and received good support from Deon Kotze. When Kotze was out for 33 they had taken the score to 125/7 and then Ian van Zyl weighed in with a quick 31 to take the score to 192/8.
Scholtz was eventually run out for 62 while Bjorn Kotze added 12 not out as Namibia reached 213/9 off their 50 overs.
It was never going to be enough and although Louis Klazinga got an early breakthrough, bowling Ireland’s opener Gary Wilson for a duck, William Porterfield and Eoin Morgan set Ireland up for victory with a partnership of 87 runs.
When Morgan was out for 42 off LP van der Westhuizen’s bowling, Niall O Brien joined Porterfield to close in on victory with a 101-run partnership.
Porterfield was eventually out caught and bowled by Sarel Burger for 84 but O Brien (64 not out) and Kevin O Brien (12 not out) took Ireland to 214/3 with five overs to spare.
Namibia’s wicket takers were Louis Klazinga (1/29 0ff 7 overs), Sarel Burger (1/37 off 7) and LP van der Westhuizen (1/25 of 5).
The full scorecard is as follows:
http://iccworldcupqualifier.yahoo.net/matchesandscores/irna0804.html