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Home / Rain disrupts Namibia’s T20 qualifier clash
Rain disrupts Namibia’s T20 qualifier clash
2015-07-13Staff Report 2 Namibia’s Cricket national side was unable to overcome favourites Ireland, losing by seven wickets in their T20 World Cup qualifier opening game on Friday in Northern Ireland, while their second game against Nepal was called off due to heavy showers on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles now have one point going into their third fixture today (Monday) against the United States of America. After a delayed start, Nepal inserted Namibia in on a damp pitch at Stormont, and Namibia got off to a steady start reaching 61 for 1 in 7.4 overs before rain returned. Stephen Baard and Gerrie Snyman, the Namibia openers, scored briskly to add 36 runs in just 4.1 overs before Paras Khadka dismissed Snyman for 10. Baard was unbeaten on 39 off 26 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes along the way, as the Nepal bowlers struggled a bit with a wet ball and greasy outfield. However, it didn’t matter in the end as the match was eventually abandoned with each team receiving one point. In a stop-start innings against Ireland, Namibia struggled to 124-8 with several batsmen getting little starts but none kicking on to build a knock of any significance. Ireland’s John Mooney was the pick of the bowlers taking the top three wickets of Stephen Baard, Gerrie Snyman and Raymond van Schoor, which really knocked the wind out of the Namibian youngsters. From there it was really the spinners who did the damage. George Dockrell took 2- 15 off four overs and Paul Stirling 1-20, including two sixes in his final over to ruin what otherwise would have been immaculate figures. In reply, things did not go all Ireland’s way. Stirling was out in the first over as a miss-hit drive was well held at short cover by Baard. But the experienced Niall O’Brien and William Porterfield did not panic, knowing that a run-a-ball partnership was all they needed to see their side home. There were a couple of hiccups before they got there with O’Brien falling to a catch from Craig Williams and then his brother, Kevin, departing the same way soon after. But a cameo from Andrew Balbirnie (18 not out) and an unbeaten 56 from Porterfield ensured the home crowd in Belfast was satisfied. 2015-07-13Staff Report 2
