Assam take 50-over series 

Namibia’s Capricorn Eagles suffered a comprehensive 2-0 defeat to Assam in their opening 50-over series in Guwahati over the weekend.

The tour to Indian state side Assam forms part of a reciprocal international engagement between Cricket Namibia and the Assam Cricket Association, and also serves as preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier which starts in Nepal on 18 January. 

Assam won the first match by 98 runs on Saturday and followed it up with another convincing eight-wicket victory on Sunday. 

In the opening encounter, Assam were all out for a sizeable 246 runs, with Gayatri Gurung scoring 58 runs off 84 balls and Uma Chetry 57 off only 42. 

Saima Tuhadeleni was Namibia’s top bowler, taking three wickets for 37 runs, while Wilka Mwatile and Sune Wittmann each took two wickets. 

Namibia never got close to the target, losing wickets regularly as none of their top order batters could build a big score. Kayleen Green scored 22 and Mekelaye Mwatile 25, before older sister Wilka Mwatile added a late unbeaten 41 runs, as Namibia were all out for 148.

Rashmi Dey was Assam’s top bowler, taking 4/44, while Monika Das took 2/8. 

On Sunday, Sune Wittmann played a captain’s innings, scoring nearly half of the total runs, but she received little support as the whole team was out for 118 off 31,1 overs. Wittmann top scored with 58, while Wilka Mwatile scored 19 and Yasmeen Khan 18. 

For Assam, Gayatri Gurung and Priyanka Kalita took three wickets each, while Jintimoni Kalita claimed two wickets.

Assam reached the target off only 22,1 overs and the loss of two wickets, with  Gurung once again starring with the bat with 54 not out while Rashmi Dey scored 34 not out. For Namibia, Saima Tuhadeleni and Sylvia Shihepo each took a wicket. 

The two sides will still play a two-match T20 series before Namibia departs for Nepal. 

Gurung walked away with most of the awards, after being named the player of the final, the best batter and player of the series, with 112 runs and four wickets. Namibia’s Saima Tuhadeleni won the best bowler of the series award after taking four wickets in two matches. 

The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Devajit Saikia was the key speaker at the awards ceremony, which was attended by several Assam Cricket Association (ACA) officials, including ACA president Taranga Gogoi and ACA vice president Romen Dutta. 

Saikia said he was delighted to have Namibia touring Assam and stressed the importance of such exposure. He said playing in different conditions would help players prepare better for domestic competitions and that exchange programmes benefit both teams.

Gogoi said it was a pleasure to welcome the Namibian side and wished them well for their future matches. He also congratulated the Assam team for their performance and expressed hope for more international tie-ups in the coming days.

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