ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

NAMIBIA v IRELAND When Namibia’s captain won the toss and chose to field first, he knew that the conditions favoured swing bowling, but the pitch was true and he could not have expected the remarkable events that followed. Twenty-five wickets fell on the first day so that, at the close, Ireland were batting a second time and had already lost five of their second-innings wickets. At one time it even looked possible that Namibia would claim the extra half-hour and attempt to finish the match with a victory in one day. Batting was certainly far from easy but with a bit of application, a reasonable score could have been made by either side. Instead, both teams performed as though it was a one-day international and most players got themselves out through injudicious choices of shot. Gerrie Snyman and Louis Klazinga proved far too good for Ireland who lost their first three wickets for 14 runs and, despite an hour and ten minutes of resistance from Alex Cusack, were eight wickets down for 64 at lunch. Andrew White top-scored with 19, which included one six, but Ireland were soon dismissed for 69, the lowest team score in the history of the competition. It could have been even lower, however, were it not for the ten no-balls and four wides gifted by Namibia’s bowlers. Namibia clearly did not learn from Ireland’s difficulties and were soon in trouble in reply as Boyd Rankin proved miserly from one end and Peter Connell took wickets at the other. Namibia were soon 37 for seven but the tail rallied well. When the eighth pair had put on 31, White dropped a simple catch. Although theoretically not costly since the partnership added only one more run, it was enough to give the impetus to Namibia. Kola Burger hit 16 from four balls before becoming Connell’s fourth victim but this was sufficient to give the home team a lead of 50 and the first-innings points, which was all they needed to qualify for the final. Niall O’Brien pulled the third ball of the Irish second innings into the hands of mid wicket. Cusack survived for nearly half an hour without ever settling before being bowled for four. William Porterfield and Andre Botha put on 39 but after Botha called for a quick single, which was never on, two more wickets quickly followed. At the close Ireland’s lead was a mere 27 runs with only five wickets in hand. Ireland were dismissed just before lunch on the second day but by then had extended their lead by an additional 87 runs. White and Trent Johnston took their sixth-wicket partnership to 38 and, after both were out in quick succession to Kola Burger to give him a five-wicket return, Kyle McCallan and Regan West put on 47 for the eighth wicket. Sarel Burger took the last two wickets leaving Namibia to score 115 runs in two and a half days. Still their batsmen played as though it were a one-day international and the Irish pace bowlers, Connell and Rankin, took full advantage of their indiscretions. At 31 for four, Namibia were clearly struggling. Snyman decided that attack was the most likely method of success and, off 14 balls, hit 28, including three fours, and two successive sixes off Rankin. When he was dropped at cover point by Cusack, it looked as though Ireland’s chance of victory had gone, but it was Snyman who made the fatal error, trying for another big hit off Rankin only to offer a catch to Porterfield, now fielding at cover. Johnston came into the attack when the opening bowlers were rested and removed two of the tail, leaving Namibia to score 16 with the last pair together. Klazinga and Kola Burger made seven of these but, just as the finish was looking increasingly tight, Rankin returned to the attack and Kola Burger, attempting a cut shot, hit him in the air down to McCallan at third man. Ireland were perhaps fortunate to win a close match which could have gone either way, but they did well to come back after conceding first-innings lead. Rankin, in a rare appearance for his country, took seven wickets in the match for 72 but it was his partner, Peter Connell, who gained the Man-of-the-Match award for his match figures of seven for 73. 168 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08