Monday 10 / February / 2025
MUSCAT: Oman's four-match winning streak at home in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League (WCL) 2 came to a halt on Monday as Namibia defeated the hosts by 23 runs in a low-scoring thriller at the Oman Cricket Academy ground Al Amerat.
This was Oman's first defeat in five WCL2 games at home, leaving them with 14 points from 13 matches, while Namibia’s win closed the gap with Oman to just two points, with 12 points from 14 matches.
Oman’s chase of Namibia’s modest score of 169 faltered early with the dismissal of opener Aamir Kaleem (15). Skipper Jatinder Singh (25) and Ashish Odedara (11) couldn’t build a lasting partnership either, leaving Oman at 58/4 with Wasim Ali out for a duck.
ODI debutant Hashir Dafedar (15) and experienced Sufyan Mehmood (11) were then dismissed in quick succession by Gerhard Erasmus, and the Omani middle order found it difficult to cope with the pressure from Namibia's spin attack.
Vinayak Shukla (17), one of the three ODI debutants of Oman, along with Hassnain Shah (16*) did hold on to offer some resistance along with the last batter, Shakeel Ahmed (13) but the hosts were eventually bowled out for 146 in 37.2 overs to lose by 23 runs.
Spinners Bernard Scholtz (2/26) and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (2/18) led the way with the ball, while another tweaker Gerhard Erasmus (2/42) and Ruben Trumpelmann (2/32) supported well.
Earlier, Namibia, put to bat first, found themselves in early trouble as Oman's spinners ran riot on a slow pitch. Despite a slow start, managing just 24 runs in the first 10 overs, Namibia lost wickets at regular intervals after the mandatory powerplay.
Zane Green (21) was run out, but JP Kotze (29) provided some resistance before being sent back by Sufyan Mehmood. Captain Gerhard Erasmus (0) fell cheaply, the first of Samay Shrivastava’s four victims, followed by Jan Frylinck (16).
The Omani spin trio of Shrivastav (4/56), Shakeel Ahmed (2/26), and Jay Odedra (1/26) ensured that Namibia couldn’t build partnerships.
Malan Kruger added some resistance with a brisk 39 off 34 balls, including two sixes, but once he fell to Odedra, the lower order crumbled.
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (12), Jan-Izak de Villiers (2), JJ Smit (4), and Ruben Trumpelmann (1) all fell cheaply. Namibia’s ODI debutant Jan Balt’s unbeaten 35 off 50 balls helped the team cross the 150-mark before the team was bowled out for 169 in 46.3 overs.
Malan Kruger was named the Player of the Match for his valuable 39. Oman, coached by Duleep Mendis, will now hope to bounce back from the setback in their next game against the USA on Wednesday.
USA, table toppers, had won their first game of the tri-series against Namibia on February 8.
Brief scores: Namibia 169 all out in 46.3 overs (Malan Kruger 39, Zane Green 21, JP Kotze 29, Jan Balt 35*;
Samay Shrivastava 4/56, Shakeel Ahmed 2/26, Jay Odedra 1/26, Sufyan Mehmood 2/15) beat Oman 146 all out in 37.2 overs (Jatinder Singh 25, Vinayak Shukla 17, Hassnain Shah 16*, Shakeel Ahmed 13; Bernard Scholtz 2/26, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton 2/18, Gerhard Erasmus 2/42, Ruben Trumpelmann 2/32).
