Eagles win first game at T20 Qualifiers

Namibia yesterday beat the United States of America by seven wickets to claim their first win at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015, taking place in Ireland. The Group A clash at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast saw Namibia opting to field first after winning the toss, and its bowlers managed to restrict USA to 113 for 8 in 20 overs. Thereafter, the Namibia openers, Stephen Baard and Gerrie Snyman, put on 97 to make short work of the chase, which was completed in 12.5 overs. Akeem Dodson, the opener, was the USA’s top scorer, with a 41-ball 49. However, the rest of the line-up was unable to offer him the support needed – the next highest score of the innings was Alex Amsterdam’s 27-ball 18. USA lost its first wicket in the third over when Jason Davidson, the right-arm speedster, induced an edge off Fahad Babar that was caught behind. Dodson then farmed the strike and put on a quick 35 for the second wicket with Timothy Surujbally, but the stand was broken when the latter was run out after scoring 3 off 7 balls. Nicholas Stanford didn’t last long thereafter, trapped in front by Bernard Scholtz, the left-arm spinner, as USA was reduced to 57 for 3. Dodson fought on though, and put on 25 for the fourth wicket with Amsterdam. But he was then felled by Scholtz, one run short of a half-century, and USA didn’t recover after that setback. At the time it was 82 for 4, but the rest of the batsmen could only manage 31 runs off the remaining 41 balls. In their chase, Namibia’s openers were relentless. They put on 97 runs in 10 overs, with Snyman taking the attack to the bowlers. He scored a 36-ball 62, including five fours and five sixes, even as Baard sealed up one end, scoring a 28-ball 34. Such was the ferocity of Snyman’s hitting that USA’s total was soon dwarfed. The stand was eventually broken when Amsterdam had Snyman dismissed in the tenth over. Baard was then bowled by TK Patel, the leg spinner who also had Raymond van Schoor, the new man, scalped in his next over. But it was too little too late, and Namibia eventually completed their chase with 43 balls to spare. Namibia next face Jersey on Friday. BELFAST-ICC-CRICKET.COM