Maqonda Ndlovu
Namibia beat Uganda by 26 runs in the first of the four Twenty 20 (T20) matches of the 2023 Castle Lite Series at the United Cricket Grounds on Wednesday.
Namibia scored 191 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs (191/6), while restricting the visitors to 165/4.
After winning the toss, the visitors sent the Eagles to bat, with opener Michael van Lingen punishing them by smashing 68 runs from 40 balls through eight fours and three sixes to win the Man of the Match award.
He was backed by wicketkeeper Zane Green, who hit 32 runs from 17 balls not out, while captain Gerhard Merwe Erasmus chipped in with 29 runs from 15 balls.
Number two batter Nico Davin scored 27 runs from 26 balls, while vice captain JJ Smit’s return from injury saw him score a single run after facing two balls.
Jan Frylinck contributed 29 runs.
The Eagles then produced a bowling masterclass to restrict Uganda, with Ramjani Ravilal Alpesh scoring 55 runs and Ronald Lutaaya getting 54 runs.
Frylinck conceded 22 runs and claimed a wicket from the three overs he bowled, with Ruben Trumpelmann, Ben Shikongo and Erasmus also claiming a wicket each.
Speaking after the match, Erasmus said it was good for Namibia’s top order to put up a good foundation for the rest of the team.
Erasmus, who moved up the batting order to number three, said he was comfortable in that role, and it is something he will do regularly.
His Ugandan counterpart said they could have batted way better, and they will try to learn as much as possible during the series.
The two sides played each other on Thursday, with Namibia scoring 196/4 in their 20 overs with Uganda scoring 123 all out in their 20 overs to see the Eagles winning by 73 runs.
Namibia lead the four-match series 2-0, with the next T20 match scheduled for tomorrow, and the final T20 match scheduled for Sunday.