Namibia and UAE to play in World Cricket League Division 2 after sharing the spoils
- Namibia and UAE miss out on direct qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018
- UAE climb the table after ICC Intercontinental Cup win
With one round to go in the ICC World Cricket League Championship, Namibia and the UAE have missed out on direct qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 (CWCQ).
Both teams needed a 2-0 series victory to continue in their pursuit of England and Wales 2019 directly via the ICC CWCQ. Their final hope to reach the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 now rests on finishing in the top two of the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 2018, which will then complete the line-up for the 10-team Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018.
The points were shared as UAE defeated Namibia by six wickets in the first of the two 50-over round 6 matches of the ICC World Cricket League Championship, before Namibia recovered to win the second match by four wickets leaving both teams on six points at the foot of the table.
A fantastic performance by the UAE spinners restricted Namibia to 89 all out in the first World Cricket League Championship match. Ahmed Raza (3-18) and Imran Haider (3-27) took the game away from Namibia, with only LP van der Westhuizen (41) and Craig Williams (25) getting in to double figures. The UAE batsmen took only 25.1 overs to score the winning runs.
Namibia turned it around in the second match as Gerhard Erasmus (77) and captain Sarel Burger (57) led the way for Namibia chasing down the target for victory with seven balls remaining. Earlier in the day the UAE’s Rohan Mustafa (96) fell four short of his century and Ghulam Shabbar (71) were not enough as Namibia triumphed.
With only one round of matches left in the competition Namibia and UAE will now join Canada and Oman in World Cricket League Division 2. The two other positions will be filled by the other remaining two teams in the bottom four of the World Cricket League Championship. The top two teams from World Cricket League Division 2 will qualify for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
In the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup fixture the UAE won by 34 runs in a thrilling finish which propelled them into fourth spot on 47 points. The UAE spinners bowled out Namibia in 66.2 overs to secure victory. Even the outstanding performance of Namibia’s Craig Williams 5-22 with the ball and 48 with the bat could not stop the UAE. Adnan Mufti (110) and Ahmed Raza (6-61) were the star performers for the visitors. Namibia remain bottom of the table on 27 points.
UAE Captain Rohan Mustafawas satisfied with the performance in both matches said:
"Overall, it was a good tour. We won the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup fixture and the first World Cricket League Championship match which was pleasing. We made too many mistakes in the second 50 over match could and did not capitalise on opportunities.
“The next few months are very crucial for UAE Cricket and each player within the team. On returning to the UAE, we will work hard on the weaknesses identified during this tour, and stay focused on our target of qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019,” said Mustafa.
ICC World Cricket League Championship:
21 September
United Arab Emirates won by 6 wickets
Namibia 89 all out in 28.3 overs (LP van der Westhuizen 41, Craig Williams 25; Ahmed Raza 3-18)
United Arab Emirates 92-4 in 25.1 overs (Chirag Suri 26, Adnan Mufti 21 not out; Bernard Scholtz 2-24)
23 September
Namibia won by 4 wickets
United Arab Emirates 272-7 in 50 overs (Rohan Mustafa 96, Ghulam Shabber 71; JN Frylinck 3-37)
Namibia 274-6 in 48.5 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 77, Sarel Burger 57 not out; Mohammad Naveed 1-40)
ICC Intercontinental Cup:
16-18 September
United Arab Emirates won by 34 runs
United Arab Emirates 269 all out in 85.3 overs (Adnan Mufti 110, Rameez Shahzad 40; J Smit 4-37)
157 all out in 48.5 overs (Chirag Suri 41, Rohan Mustafa 29; Craig Williams 5-22)
Namibia 212 all out in 67.5 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 78, Stephan Baard 38; Ahmed Raza 6-61)
180 all out in 66.2 overs (Craig Williams 48; Bernard Scholtz 24; Rohan Mustafa 3-38).
ICC World Cricket League Championship round 6 fixtures and results
Papua New Guinea v Scotland, Port Moresby - 6 and 8 October – 0930 local time
Kenya v Netherlands, East London, South Africa - 6 and 8 October – 0930 local time
Hong Kong v Nepal, Mong Kok - 13 and 15 October – 0930 local time
Namibia v United Arab Emirates, Windhoek - 21 September – UAE won by 6 wickets
Namibia v United Arab Emirates, Windhoek - 23 September – Namibia won by 4 wickets
ICC Intercontinental Cup round 6 fixtures and results
Papua New Guinea v Scotland, Port Moresby – 1-4 October- 1000 local time
Hong Kong v Afghanistan, Mong Kok - 20-23 October, 2017 - 1000 local time
Ireland v Netherlands, Dublin – Match drawn - Ireland 477/6d and 240/7d; Netherlands 375 and 186/4
Namibia v United Arab Emirates, Windhoek – UAE won by 34 runs – UAE 269 and 157; Namibia 212 and 180
Current standings