Namibia beat Hong Kong by 162 runs to take an unassailable two-nil lead in the three-match cricket series at the Trustco United Cricket field in Windhoek on Thursday.
Hong Kong won the toss once again and decided to field, and the host posted 280 runs for nine wickets (280/9) in their allocated 50 overs.
Opener Lo-Handré Louwrens and middle-order batsman Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton were the toast of the bowlers as they smashed impressive figures of 63 from 60 and 80 from 77 respectively.
Louwrens scored six fours and a single six while Loftie-Eaton smashed a massive eight fours and a single six as the Eagles threatened to run away with the game.
However, Hong Kong bowlers kept taking crucial wickets with erratic Haroon Arshad taking four wickets in 10 overs, but conceding 72 runs in the process.
In response, Hong Kong scored four runs from the first ball as the Namibian fielders were claiming leg before the wicket of captain Nizakat Khan as they threaten to mount an incredible comeback.
Eagles’ fast pace bowling pair of Johannes Smit and Ruben Trumpelmann tightened the screw to dismiss Khan and his fellow top order batsmen Adit Gorawara, Babar Hayat and Yasim Murtaza – in quick succession.
Gorawara was the top scorer for the visitors with 32 off 58 balls while Namibia’s Smit and Helao ya France each picked two wickets with the latter conceding just three runs from the four overs he bowled.
Ya France bowled 10 overs and conceded 21 runs to lead Namibia to an emphatic victory.
Hong Kong head coach Trent Johnson said Namibia played well and their experience was the difference between the two teams.
“The three matches here will help us prepare well for our tour to Uganda. Our performance here was not what we expected. The 280 runs was a chasable score on this wicket. There was no responsibility from our side,” he said.
Eagles assistant coach Justin Kemp said his team lacked momentum during batting.
“The guys bowled well but I am disappointed that Loftie-Eaton did not get his 100 runs. We have a few injuries right now and we may change the team for the last game on Sunday,” Kemp said.
The two teams will meet at the same venue for the final game of the series, with the host leading two-nil.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
