ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

NAMIBIA v SCOTLAND Scotland’s decision to bat first soon proved disastrous as Namibia’s pace attack exploited conditions favouring swing to take three wickets for 19 runs in the first eleven overs. With the next three wickets adding only 29, a very low total was in prospect but Gavin Hamilton and John Blain restored some semblance of control in a partnership of 47. With Glenn Rogers becoming the third Scottish batsman to make double figures, the total of 140 was a considerable improvement on what might have been. Gerrie Snyman was the most successful bowler with four wickets but he gave away 15 runs to Scotland through wides and no-balls. All the pace bowlers tempted the batsmen to play balls moving off the seam, as a result of which Raymond van Schoor picked up four catches behind the stumps. When Namibia’s turn came to bat, Scotland proved that their pace attack was just as, or even more, effective. Namibia lost three wickets in the first over, Blain being almost unplayable, to leave the home side on 4 for three. A minor recovery was effected as van Schoor and Louis Burger took the score to 35 but Scotland then took three more wickets for 16 runs. Bjorn Kotze and Nicolaas Scholtz added 30, and Scholtz and Deon Kotze a further 25, before Craig Wright took the last three wickets to give Scotland a lead of 25 runs on first innings. The day saw 20 wickets fall and 255 runs scored, an average wicket partnership of 12.75. Douglas Lockhart failed to survive the first over of the second morning but after that Namibia were unable to repeat their successes of the previous day. Fraser Watts and Qasim Sheikh played patiently and confidently and by the time they had lasted 41 overs and added 111 runs, it looked as though conditions had changed in favour of the batsmen. Kola Burger had other ideas, however, and his dismissal of Watts was the precursor of nine wickets falling for 100 runs. Burger claimed five of these to bring his innings return to six for 62, his best analysis in first-class cricket. Five out of Burger’s six wickets were leg-before. Watts batted two hours and 50 minutes for his 54, made at a strike rate of 41.5, and Sheikh three hours 55 minutes for his 63, at a strike rate of 35.5. As in Scotland’s first innings only three batsmen reached double figures, the third this time being Wright who struck three boundaries in his 26 before falling to a run-out. Namibia required 237 to win, a far higher total than any achieved in the match so far and when both openers fell in Blain’s third over with just ten on the board, Scotland seemed to be in a strong position. Snyman went with the score on 16 but Sarel Burger and Louis Burger survived until the close. Scotland were in control for most of the third day despite stubborn resistance from Namibia’s lower order in support of Sarel Burger, whose 79 in three hours 21 minutes was vital in standing firm whilst wickets fell regularly at the other end. With six wickets down for 105, Sarel Burger found a partner in Scholtz but, after they had put on 47, Rogers finally brought Burger’s innings to an end. Some small but useful tail-end partnerships followed to take Namibia to 170 for eight and 190 for nine but, with 47 still needed, it seemed only a matter of time before Scotland would win the match, as no one expected Louis Klazinga to last long. However, he played the best innings of his career to date whilst Deon Kotze slowly accumulated runs in ones and twos. As the partnership progressed, Klazinga became more confident and struck three boundaries, while the Scottish bowlers and fielders became more frustrated at their inability to get the last wicket. Namibia’s score moved ever closer to the target and eventually reached it to gain an incredible and unexpected victory by one wicket with a day to spare. Klazinga survived 73 balls and had a strike rate of 24.6. Deon Kotze faced 107 balls and had a strike rate of 35.5. This tenth-wicket partnership and the second-wicket partnership in Scotland’s second innings showed that runs could be made a long as the batsmen played with care. Blain had match figures of nine for 106 but even he could not obtain that vital breakthrough of the home side’s last wicket. 150 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08