Davey helps Scotland clinch thriller against Netherlands

Ireland turned its Desert T20 Challenge campaign around with a five-wicket win over Namibia, while Scotland kept its cool as Netherlands lost its way in the other game of the day on Tuesday (January 17).

Ireland v NamibiaIreland pulled off a five-wicket victory over Namibia at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in the first match of the day. Batting first, Namibia scored 149 for 9 after an 81-run first-wicket stand, but Ireland got over the line with two balls to spare despite losing wickets in a clutch at the beginning of the chase.

A crucial third-wicket stand of 48 between Stuart Poynter and Kevin O'Brien helped Ireland consolidate after it had lost Paul Stirling and William Porterfield early on. But once Gerrie Snyman went past Poynter's defence in the tenth over to send him back for a 26-ball 38, and O'Brien followed suit for a run-a-ball 22 the following over, Namibia would have fancied its chances of getting a grip on the game again.

But with the scoreboard reading 83 for 4, Gary Wilson and Greg Thompson got together to script a fifth-wicket partnership of 45 to douse Namibia's plans. Thomson fell for 17 in 21 balls in the 18th over but Wilson (38 not out in 28 balls) and Andy McBrine ensured there were no further hiccups for their side.

Earlier, Namibia, electing to bat, got off to a great start but struggled in the middle and death overs. Louis van der Westhuizen hit 50 in 25 balls at the top in company with Stephan Baard before returning a catch to Craig Young, the right-arm pacer, off his own bowling.

The wicket opened up the floodgates, as wickets kept tumbling from then on to cripple Namibia. Baard (32 in 30) was dismissed in the tenth over, and only three other batsmen after that managed to reach double figures.

Joshua Little (2-17) was the most successful bowler for Ireland with his left-arm pace as the team registered its first win in the competition after having lost its opening game against Afghanistan on Saturday.
Brief Scores: Namibia146/9 in 20 overs (Stephan Baard 32, Louis van der Westhuizen 50; Joshua Little 2-17, Kevin O'Brien 2-21) lost to Ireland149/5 in 19.4 overs (Stuart Poynter 38, Gary Wilson 38 n.o.) by 5 wickets.

Netherlands v ScotlandLater in the evening, Scotland and Netherlands locked horns in the second match of the day at the same venue. It turned out to be a thrilling contest, as Kyle Coetzer and Co. snatched a seven-run win over their opponent in the last over.

With ten runs required off six balls and two wickets in hand, Netherlands succumbed to twin run outs – of Ahsan Malik and Paul van Meekeren – off consecutive deliveries to suffer its first loss in its second match.

Chasing 148, Netherlands was restricted to 141 in 19.2 overs, with Josh Davey (4-34) playing the role of chief wrecker.

Michael Rippon (42 in 40) and Ben Cooper (24 in 16) gave their side a good start, but once the latter departed, caught by Safyaan Sharif off Davey in the sixth over, Netherlands struggled to string the much-needed big partnership.

Wickets kept tumbling around Rippon, and Netherlands was 97 for 5 in 13.1 overs when he departed, bowled by Con de Lange. Max O'Dowd and Pieter Seelaar tried their best to keep Netherlands in the hunt but, in the end, the run outs put paid to their efforts.

Earlier, sent in to bat, Scotland rode on a middle-order drive to post 148 for 7 after early wickets had left it at 13 for 3.

Roelof van der Merwe and van Meekeren rattled Scotland's top order by sending back the top-three batsmen – George Munsey, Coetzer and Matthew Cross – for four runs each.

It was Calum MacLeod (20 in 18), who eventually fell hit-wicket, and Richie Berrington (38 in 30), who staged a fightback for Scotland with a fourth-wicket stand of 57.

Once MacLeod and Berrington departed in the 12th and 13th overs respectively, Craig Wallace (21 in 21) joined hands with Con de Lange (22 in 10) and Sharif (20 n.o. in 11) to carry on the good work. Their efforts helped Scotland keep its unbeaten streak alive with two wins in two matches.

Van der Merwe was the best bowler for Netherlands, returning figures of 2 for 26.

Brief Scores: Scotland148/7 in 20 overs (Richie Berrington 38; Roelof van der Merwe 2-26, Paul van Meekeren 2-30, Michael Rippon 2-33) beat Netherlands 141 in 19.2 overs (Michael Rippon 42; Josh Davey 4-34, Con de Lange 2-17) by 7 runs.