SOURCE: The Namibian https://www.namibian.com.na/100454/read/Erasmus-leads-Namibia-to-victory
GERHARD Erasmus played a captain’s innings to steer Namibia to a commanding seven wicket victory in their first T20 International against Uganda at the Wanderers field on Saturday.
Erasmus scored 62 not out off only 36 balls as Namibia easily reached the winning target of 135 with five overs to spare.
Uganda opted to bat after winning the toss and got off to a quick start with Roger Mukasa and Arnold Otwani putting on 37 for the first wicket.
Namibian pace bowler Ben Shikongo got the breakthrough, bowling Mukasa for 26, and when spinner Bernard Scholtz dismissed Otwani for 7, Uganda were two down for 40 runs on the board.
Hamu Kayondo and Ronak Patel revived Uganda’s innings with a 48 run partnership before Nicol Loftie Eaton dismissed Kayondo for 28, and when Shikongo bowled Dinesh Nakrani for one, Uganda were four down for 92 runs.
Riazat Shah added a rapid 23 off 14 balls as Uganda reached a total of 134 for five wickets off their 20 overs.
Ben Shikongo with two wickets for 24 runs was the pick of the Namibian bowlers.
In reply, Namibia lost their openers early on, with JP Kotze going for two and Craig Williams for four, but Gerhard Erasmus and Nicol Loftie Eaton put them back on track with a 41-run partnership.
Dinesh Nakrani bowled Loftie Eaton for 18 but Michau du Preez joined Erasmus to take Namibia to victory with an unbroken partnership of 82 runs, as they reached the target with five overs to spare.
Du Preez was not out on 29 off 25 balls, while Erasmus was not out on 62 off only 36 balls, which included four sixes and five fours.
Here is the scorecard:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/uganda-tour-of-namibia-2021-1257402/namibia-vs-uganda-1st-t20i-1257404/full-scorecard
