Namibia rap up 50-over series against Ireland A

NAMIBIA scored a second successive seven-wicket victory against Ireland A on Thursday, to wrap up their series on a winning note.

Although Ireland A dominated the T20 series between the two sides, winning it 4-1, Namibia bounced back to win both their 50-over matches by seven wickets.

In Thursday’s final match, Namibia restricted Ireland A to 149 all out and then comfortably reached the winning target with half their overs in hand.

In Ireland A’s innings, only their captain, Harry Tector offered much resistance as Namibia’s bowlers gained the initiative from the start.

Tangeni Lungameni dismissed James McCollom (8) and Stephen Doheny (5) early on and when Craig Williams bowled Jack Tector for a duck they were struggling at 28 for three wickets.

Harry Tector and Shane Getkate led their revival with a 43-run partnership, but Gerhard Erasmus removed the latter for 10, and when Karl Birkenstock dismissed George Dockrell for 18, they were struggling at 105 for five wickets.

Harry Tector kept Ireland A’s hopes alive with a fine knock, but Namibia’s spinners, led by Bernard Scholtz cut through their lower order, and when Tector was last man out for 72, the whole side was out for a modest 149.

Scholtz was Namibia’s top bowler, taking three wickets for 25 runs off 8,5 overs, while Tangeni Lungameni took 2/14 off six, and Craig Williams, Pikky Ya France, Gerhard Erasmus and Karl Birkenstock one wicket each.

In Namibia’s innings, Zane Green was dismissed early on for a duck, but the rest of their top order batsmen weighed in with fine contributions.

Stephen Baard scored 23 off 27 balls, including four fours, while Niko Davin and Gerhard Erasmus put Namibia in charge with a 78-run third wicket partnership.

Davin was eventually out for a run-a-ball 53, including two sixes and five fours, while Erasmus remained unbeaten on 63 off 50 balls, including three sixes and six fours, as Namibia reached 150 for three wickets off only 26,1 overs.

SOURCE: https://www.namibian.com.na/88649/read/Namibia-rap-up-50-over-series

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