The final edition of the ICC World Cricket League Division Two culminated on a triumphant note for hosts Namibia, who secured the title by beating Oman by 145 runs in the final. The summit clash was Namibia’s first ODI in more than 16 years, and the win that confirmed their ODI status for the next two years came in their last league fixture against Hong Kong, in which they piled up a record total of 396/3.
On that note, here is a look at Namibia’s six highest totals in List A cricket.
396/3 v Hong Kong, Windhoek (Affles Park), WCL Division Two, 2019
Namibia needed a win in their last league match of the 2019 WCL Division Two to be assured of the coveted ODI status. Openers Stephan Baard and Jean Bredenkamp began circumspectly after Hong Kong elected to field, taking 14 overs to put on 45. But as the innings went on, the hosts upped the ante. Baard was joined by Jean-Pierre Kotze, and the duo added 243 for the second wicket at nearly nine an over.
Kotze dominated the stand, plundering 148 from just 86 balls before getting out in the 42nd over. Baard followed soon after for a 128-ball 122, but the carnage was far from over, as Johannes Smit (61* in 26 balls) and Zane Green (41* in 21) combined to share in a fourth-wicket stand of 103* in a mere 46 balls. This final flourish swelled the total to a gargantuan 396/3, which paved the way for Namibia’s 151-run win.
358/7 v United Arab Emirates, Windhoek (Wanderers Cricket Ground), WCL Division Two, 2007-08
Namibia’s previous highest total revolved around a stunning innings from Gerrie Snyman, but it was eventually not enough for victory. Coming in at 48/2, Snyman hit a whirlwind 196 in 113 balls, and his 17 sixes created a new List A record that stood for nearly 11 years. The huge target did not deter the UAE though, as captain Saqib Ali (91) and Khurram Khan (89) steered them to a five-wicket win in the 46th over.
Namibia’s players celebrate a Scottish wicket at Edinburgh in 2017 (source – BBC)
353/8 v Limpopo, Windhoek (Wanderers Cricket Ground), South African Provincial One-Day Challenge, 2006-07
This Pool A game of the South African Provincial One-Day Challenge saw Namibia breach the 350-run mark for the first time in List A cricket. Interestingly, Zimbabwean wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu played for Namibia, and though he did not fire, Jan-Berrie Burger (85 in 44 balls) and Kola Burger (74 in 42) ensured an imposing total from the allotted 45 overs. Limpopo managed only 185 in reply.
344/6 v Argentina, Windhoek (United Ground), WCL Division Two, 2007-08
The 2007-08 WCL Division Two in Windhoek was indeed characterised by some heavy run-scoring – three days before their record total against the UAE, Namibia put the Argentine bowling to the sword. Jan-Berrie Burger (65) set the tone, before Snyman (98) and captain Bjorn Kotze (54*) built on the momentum. Despite a gritty 114* from opener Matias Paterlini, Argentina could muster no more than 166/6.
331/9 v Griqualand West, Kimberley, South African Provincial One-Day Challenge, 2006-07
Namibia’s 109-run win at the De Beers Diamond Oval was set up by Jan-Berrie Burger, who slashed 131 from 99 balls and put on 149 for the second wicket with Taibu (58). Namibia fell from 210/1 to 253/8, but a 21-ball 43* from number ten Louis van der Westhuizen propelled the total to 331/9 after 45 overs. Griqualand West kept losing wickets regularly, and their innings wound up at 222 in the 34th over.
324/5 v Scotland, Edinburgh, WCL Championship, 2017
Placed at the bottom of the 2015-17 World Cricket League Championship table, Namibia defied the odds to beat Scotland for the first time in eight List A matches with a memorable 50-run win at the Grange Cricket Club. Openers Stephan Baard (78 off just 53 balls) and Zane Green (61) provided Namibia with a perfect start after captain Sarel Burger elected to bat, stitching together 124 in just 19 overs.
Jan Frylinck (42) and Craig Williams (69*) continued the good work, as they cemented Namibia’s position with a fourth-wicket stand of 71. A productive last few overs helped the total bloom to 324/5. Scottish captain Kyle Coetzer kept his team in the hunt with a well-paced 112, but the Namibian bowlers kept striking at critical junctures to deny the opposition control, ultimately restricting the total to 274/9.
The Cricket Cauldron 