Scotland produced a stunning run chase to beat Namibia by five wickets in the T20 World Cup yesterday.Returning to the Kensington Oval after their washout against England, they achieved a target of 156 with nine balls to spare, securing their first T20I victory over Namibia.
A 74-run partnership between Richie Berringnton and Micheal Leask ultimately, saw Scotland home. Berrington finished 47 not out after Leask injected impetus into the chase with a 17-ball 35.
Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus had earlier turned matters in his side’s favour with the ball, taking 2 for 29 after his 52 underpinned their 155 for 9 in the first innings.
Namibia found themselves 55 for 4, thanks largely to the excellence of the new ball pair of Brad Wheal and Brad Currie. But Erasmus put the Namibia innings on his back with his 11th fifty-plus T20I score, 37 of which came in a rebuilding stand of 51 with Zane Green for the fifth wicket.
Despite losing George Munsey earlier in their chase, Scotland had chipped off 49 midway through the eighth over for the loss of just one. Michael Jones stepped up the gears, scoring 15 of the 18 runs in the final over of the powerplay, but Erasmus returned to the fray with to instigate a collapse.
With his wily off spinners at one end, and Bernard Scholtz’s slow left-arm at the other, the pair pocketed three wickets between them as Scotland fell from 49 for 1 to 73 for 4 after 11 overs.
It was at that point Leask joined forces with Berrington to take Scotland to the brink with a 42-ball partnership that included seven boundaries, including four sixes from Leask. Though he would fall, Berrington finished the match off in style, carting David Wiese into the pavilion at long on as Scotland triumphed to put them top of the group Micheal Leask was adjudged man of the match for his all round performance.
Chief scores
Namibia 155 for 9 wickets in 20 overs Nikolaas Darwin 20, Gerhard Erasmus 52,Zane Green 28,David Wiese 14,Brad Wheal 3/33,Bard Currie 2/16
Scotland 157 for 5 wickets in 18.3 overs Micheal Jones 26,Brandon McMullen 19,Richie Berringnton 47*,Micheal Leask 35,Gerhard Erasmus 2/29
(D.R )
