The United States beat Namibia by 70 runs in their ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 match in Al Amerat, Oman on Friday.
Although it was a commanding win in the end that stretched the US’s lead to four points at the top of the table, Namibia could have pulled off an upset win if they had taken their chances.
In the end the USA posted a solid 268/9, and then restricted Namibia to 198 all out to seal a resounding win. The cold statics, though, dont tell the tale of an intriguing contest that could have gone either way.
After being sent in to bat the USA got off to a solid start as Andries Gous and Smit Patel put on 40 for the first wicket before Bernard Scholtz bowled Patel for 17.
Monank Patel joined Gous and shared a 96-run partnership and when they took the score to 136/1 by the 30th over they seemed to be heading to a plus 300 total.
Bernard Scholtz, however, swung the match Namibia’s way with a brilliant bowling spell as he equalled his personal best haul of five wickets for 22 runs, and with the USA suddenly reduced to 165/5 with 11 overs to go, the outcome was still wide open.
Scholtz received little support from Namibia’s other bowlers, with Ruben Trumpelmann particularly expensive at 1/76 off 10 overs, and with Aaron Jones (31) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (41) leading their revival the US reached 268/9 off their 50 overs.
Besides Scholtz, Jack Brassell took 2/42, and Trumpelmann and JJ Smit (1/56) one wicket each.
Namibia suffered an early setback when Milind Kumar dismissed JP Kotze (7) and Jan Frylinck (0) in three balls to reduce Namibia to 7/2 by the second over.
Zane Green and Gerhard Erasmus started a revival but the Namibian captain went out to a rash shot, trying to force the pace and being caught off a top edge for 11.
Malan Kruger (12) and JJ Smit (1) also went cheaply, but Nicol Loftie Eaton joined Green and gave Namibia renewed hope with a 50-run partnership.
Saurabh Netravalkar, however, got the breakthrough, dismising Green for 65 off a mistimed hook, and when he also dismissed Loftie-Eaton for 28 off a rash reverse sweep, the USA were well in charge with Namibia struggling at 136/7.
The contest wasnt over though as Ruben Trumpelmann led a late revival with a swashbuckling innings to give Namibia renewed hope.
Jasdeep Singh, however, got the breakthrough, bowling Trumpelmann for 55 off 35 balls (7×4, 2×6) and Namibia were soon all out for 198. Netravalkar (3/41) and Kumar (3/42) were the USA’s best bowlers.
The USA now lead the log with 20 points from 15 matches, followed by Canada (16), Oman (16), the Netherlands (14) and Scotland (14), with Namibia trailing in sixth place on 12 points.
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