31 October 2008
Namibia were struggling at 135/6 at tea on the opening day of the ICC Intercontinental Cup final against Ireland in Port Elizabeth yesterday.
Namibia won the toss and elected to bat first.
Openers JB Burger and LP van der Westhuizen put on 36 runs for the first wicket before Van der Westhuizen was out to a bouncer from Boyd Rankin that he fended away to be caught at backward point.
Namibia had added only one more run when JB Burger was next out, bowled by Trent Johnston for 13.
Craig Williams and Sarel Burger added 44 runs for the third wicket, with especially Williams hitting some fine boundaries.
But he was next to go when he cut at a ball from Connell to be caught at point for 25 with the total on 81.
Connell also removed Sarel Burger for 20 when he edged a ball to be well caught at third slip, while Andre Botha made the big breakthrough when he had Gerrie Snyman caught for only 9.
Snyman attempted a big hit but did not connect properly and was caught by Connell at mid-off.
Deon Kotze was next to go, out for 5 after being caught in the slips off the bowling of Alex Cusack, with the total on 104.
Louis Burger and Bjorn Kotze led a fine middle order revival to take the score to 135/6 shortly before tea.
Burger was not out on 32 while Kotze was not out on 6 as the two added an unbroken stand of 31 runs for the sixth wicket.
Peter Connell was Ireland's top wicket taker with 2/22, while Boyd Rankin took 1/45, Andre Botha 1/31, Trent Johnston 1/18 and Alex Cusack 1/7.
Namibia still have some big hitters further down the order in the likes of Kola Burger and Tobie Verwey, but it will be disconcerting to the team that their top order could not lay a bigger foundation.
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