Burger, Erasmus lead Namibia to tight win

Sarel Burger and Gerhard Erasmus scored half-centuries as Namibia sealed a close four-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates in the 42nd match of the ICC World Cricket League 2015-17 in Windhoek on Saturday (September 23).

This win meant that Namibia exchanged positions with UAE on the table by virtue of a better net run-rate while both are on six points each.

Chasing 273 to win, Namibia reached 274 for the loss of six wickets with just seven balls to spare as Burger, the captain, and Erasmus put on a 96-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Erasmus was dismissed on 77 off 84 balls, striking six fours and two sixes before being run out by Rohan Mustafa, the UAE captain. Burger carried on batting and remained unbeaten on 57 off 66 balls with five fours while JJ Smits struck a handy unbeaten 22 off 13 balls that included two sixes.

Namibia was in a spot of bother at the start with both openers Stephan Baard (16 off 19 balls) and Louis Van Westhuizen (24 off 19 balls) departing within two balls of each other after a 42-run partnership. Lohan Louwrens, the wicketkeeper, remained steady in his 54-ball 48 even as the UAE bowlers took wickets at regular intervals.

At 130 for 5, Namibia seemed down before Burger and Erasmus lifted it again. Shaiman Anwar, Mohammad Naveed and Imran Haider picked up a wicket apiece.

Earlier, in addition to effecting a run-out and picking up the wicket of Van Westhuizen, Mustafa struck a patient 96 off 113 balls with nine fours and two sixes and put on 50-run partnerships with Chirag Suri (27 off 55 balls) and Ghulam Shabber.

Shabber, the wicketkeeper, struck the second of three half-centuries in the UAE batting lineup - a run-a-ball 71 with five fours - while Shaiman Anwar's effort saw a brisk 50 off 38 balls helping UAE reach 272 for the loss of seven wickets.

UAE might have been able to post a bigger total but the Namibia bowlers were quick to rein in the scoring as Bernard Scholtz accounted for the opening pair of Suri and Mustafa, while Jan Frylinck restricted the lower order from putting up a fight with 3 for 37. Craig Williams also picked up two wickets to help restrict UAE to a chaseable target.