AFTER losing their T20 series 4-1, Namibia bounced back with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against Ireland A in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Ireland batted first, scoring 228 for eight wickets in their 20 overs, but Namibia comfortably reached the total for the loss of only three wickets, with 10 overs in hand.
In Ireland A’s innings, Niko Davin made an early breakthrough, running out Jack Tector for 2, but James McCollom (27) and Stephen Doheny (22) put them on track with a 44-run partnership.
Namibia however struck with three wickets for three runs to reduce them to 55 for four wickets and when Gareth Delaney (12) and Harry Tector (31) were dismissed in quick succession, Ireland were struggling at 100 for six wickets.
George Dockrell and Curtis Campher however revived their hopes with an 89-run partnership, before Dockrell was dismissed by Gerhard Erasmus for a top score of 55 which came off 68 balls and included six fours.
Campher went on to score 54 off 71 balls before being dismissed by Craig Williams, while Ireland A recovered to reach 228 for eight wickets off their 50 overs.
Williams, who took two wickets for 15 runs off four overs, and Ben Shikongo with 2/36 off seven were Namibia’s best bowlers.
Namibia’s run chase got off to a fine start as Stephen Baard and Zane Green put on 56 runs for the first wicket before Green was dismissed for 22.
Baard, however, maintained the tempo and when he was dismissed for 56, they were well set at 103 for two wickets.
The rest of the top order batsmen maintained the momentum with some impressive innings, as Niko Davin scored 63 off 69 balls (4×6, 3×4), Gerhard Erasmus 42 not out and Craig Williams 36 not out off 25 balls (6×4) as Namibia reached the target with 10 overs in hand.
SOURCE: https://www.namibian.com.na/88615/read/Namibia-beat-Ireland-A
