Global Game: Namibia sweep men’s series against Uganda

The first match on the 3rd of April saw Uganda post a middling total of 134/5. Solid contributions from Roger Mukasa and Hamu Kayondo laid a steady platform of 87/2 after 14 overs, but wickets to legspinner Jan-Nicol Loftie-Eaton and seamer Ben Shikongo sucked the momentum out of Uganda’s innings; a quickfire 23 (14) from allrounder Riazat Ali Shah nudged the run rate back above six and left the bowlers something to defend. With the ball, Uganda claimed a brace of early wickets with JP Kotze and Craig Williams departing for single digits, but the decisive play was in the second over, when Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus was deceived by Shah’s slower ball and lobbed a mistimed pull shot to mid-on, where Frank Akankwasa couldn’t hold on to the chance. After that, it was one-way traffic, as Erasmus united for steady partnerships with Loftie-Eaton and Michau de Preez, and accelerated his own scoring rate to finish the chase in the 15th over and end on 62* (36).

It was a double-header on 5 April, with Namibia restricted to 134/6 after an improved bowling and fielding display from Uganda in the morning match. The hosts were wobbling at 34/4 in the eighth over, after seamers Cosmas Kyewuta, Jonathan Sebanja, and Riazat Ali Shah knocked out the top order, but a restrained 40 (32) from the usually explosive JJ Smit and another steady hand from Michau du Preez (33* from 33) repaired the innings. In response, Uganda’s chase was derailed by an incisive opening spell from Ben Shikongo (2/8 off 2 overs) had them 16/4 in the fifth over. Ronak Patel and Kenneth Waiswa set about getting the chase back on track, but their 49-run stand was cut short by an unseasonal rain shower over Windhoek that ultimately saw Uganda's 20 runs adrift on the DLS calculation.

The third and final T20I was able to be played in the afternoon, and Namibia cut loose with a crushing 65-run victory. Veteran allrounder Craig Williams, promoted to open for the series, cracked boundaries all around the ground on his way to 81 off 49 deliveries, before a late flourish from JJ Smit (35* off 13) lifted the total to 189/3. In response, Riazat Ali Shah battled gamely with 33 (17), but lacked support as Namibian seamers Tangeni Lungameni and Jan Frylinck shared the spoils with three wickets apiece, and the Ugandans were dismissed in the last over for 124.

A change of format did not see a change of fortunes for the tourists, as Namibia racked up a pair of big totals last Wednesday and Thursday before their bowlers choked off Uganda’s chases. In the first one-day match, Uganda produced a disciplined bowling effort to keep Namibia in check until late in their innings, with the hosts not passing 200 until the 45th over. But a blistering assault from JJ Smit (81 off 56) and Michael van Lingen (56* off 45) saw them plunder over 100 runs from the last six overs to reach 301/7 off their 50 overs. Left-arm seamer Ruben Trumpelmann produced a devastating opening burst of four wickets, and Uganda’s chase was left in tatters at 9/4 after the fifth over. Ronak Patel provided obdurate resistance for Uganda with 105 (129), but the run rate had climbed too high and the visitors could only limp to 203/7, with Trumpelmann ending on 5/36 off his quota of overs.

The final match was the Stephen Baard show, with the Namibian opener stroking 145 off 105 deliveries to set up an imposing total of 355/9. Namibia’s bowlers produced a real team effort, with six of them taking wickets, and ensured that the Ugandans had no hope of keeping up with the required rate. Trumpelmann again led the way with 2/18, and the hosts completed the series in a canter as Uganda were dismissed for 192 in the 45th over.

Spain has first ODI venue approved

Spain is the home of cricket’s newest ODI-approved ground, with the Desert Springs facility receiving ICC accreditation a little over a week ago. The turf venue, completed in 2018, forms part of the luxury Desert Springs resort and is located near the town of Almanzora in Spain’s southeastern Almería province. Having met the ICC’s criteria, it becomes the first ODI ground in continental Europe outside the Netherlands, and the additional facilities available (including numerous turf net lanes, accommodation, and catering services) make it a popular destination for touring cricket teams.

Alongside the facility at La Manga, Desert Springs makes use of the year-round warm weather of the Spanish desert to provide a winter training option for sides from colder climates such as Scotland or the Netherlands. Its first international action was a T20I series last year between Spain and Germany, which was shared 1-1.

Global Game is a collaboration between the ICC andEmerging Cricket.