It was a long and hot day in the sun for Namibia as Boland’s batsmen took control on the first day of their three-day CSA match at the United field in Windhoek on Thursday.
Namibia won the toss but their decision to field first backfired as the visitors reached a commanding total of 439 for 4 wickets off 104 overs at stumps.
Letlotlo Sesele led the way with a career-best 177, while he was well-supported by Uwe Birkenstock who scored 104.
The two had shared a third wicket partnership of 187 runs.
After sending the visitors in to bat, Namibia got an early breakthrough when JJ Smit dismissed Emile Kriek, caught behind for 11 with the total on 27. Brandon Viret trapped Tiaan Cloete LBW for 14 with the total on 91, but from then on the visitors however took control as Sesele and Birkenstock piled on the runs.
Sesele reached his century in style, hitting a huge six off Shalako Groenewald while Boland reached 200 in the 57th over with Sesele not out on 129.
Namibia’s bowlers toiled away with little success as the two batsmen accelerated their scoring. Sesele’s 150 came up in the 71st over with a four off Smit, and the next over he hit three fours and a six off Raymond van Schoor to race to 168.
Smit finally got the breakthrough when he dismissed Sesele for 177, which came off 230 balls and included 20 fours and four sixes.
Birkenstock was also in fine nick and reached his half century with a six off Smit, while he was eventually out for 104 off 178 balls (7×4, 1×6).
Keegan Petersen got in on the act and hit a quickfire 87 not out off 86 balls (10×4) while Ockert Erasmus was not out on 23.
Namibian captain Raymond van Schoor used eight bowlers in total but they had little success. Smit took two wickets for 49 runs off 13 overs and Viret two for 74 runs off 20 overs. The match continues at the United field on Friday, starting at 10h00.
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