July 2001 Sport News Headlines

Thursday, July 12, 2001 - Web posted at 11:10:37 GMT

Namibia closer to World Cup after beating Holland
HELGE SCHUTZ

Namibia continued its impressive run at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy competition in Canada on Tuesday when they beat top-seeded Holland by 73 runs.

The victory has put Namibia in third position on the Super Eight log and leaves them as the only unbeaten team left in the tournament.

With two matches remaining - against the United Arab Emirates today and against Scotland tomorrow - Namibia now has a tremendous chance of qualifying for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

If Namibia wins both matches they will qualify automatically for the World Cup and if they win one match they will qualify for the third-place play-off to determine the third team that will go to the World Cup.

Namibia's victory against Holland was due to their superb bowling and fielding.

Although Namibia's batsmen could only manage a total of 180, Holland never came close to that score as all their batsmen were bundled out for 102 runs.

Opening batsman Riaan Walters continued his fine form in the tournament by scoring a patient 30 runs off 60 balls to bring his average to 54,2 after five innings.

Captain Danie Keulder was run out for five runs while number three Jan Berrie Burger also made five and when Walters was dismissed for 30, Namibia were struggling at 49 for the loss of three wickets.

Gavin Murgatroyd and Deon Kotze, however, stabilised the innings with a 43-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Kotze was out for 21 runs.

Murgatroyd went on to score 47 runs, while strong contributions further down by Louis Burger (41 not out) and Melt van Schoor (19) enabled them to reach 181 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 50 overs.

It wasn't a high total, but Namibia's bowlers responded superbly with their accurate line and length.

After the first 12 overs by Bjorn Kotze and Rudi van Vuuren, Holland had only scored 14 runs.

The 18-year old Burton van Rooi then struck in the 14th over when he dismissed two Dutch batsmen, and when he removed another four overs later Holland were struggling at 36 for the loss of three wickets.

Namibian spin bowlers Deon Kotze and Lennie Louw kept up the pressure with excellent bowling spells and the wickets fell at regular intervals.

Louw went on to take three wickets for 13 runs off nine overs and Kotze three for 23 off 10 overs, while van Rooi took three for 24 off six overs as Holland crumbled to 108 all out in 44 overs.

All rounder Deon Kotze was voted man of the match after his innings of 21 runs and three wickets for 23 runs.

According to team manager Francois Erasmus, Namibia's performance has thrown the tournament wide open, with six teams that can still qualify for the top three positions.

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