Namibia Top Group With 3rd Win in Row

Mount Maunganui: A fine bowling performance led by Louis Klazinga, who took 4 for 27, helped Namibia register a comprehensive 100-run win against Uganda in the 15th match of ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday.

Put in to bat after the game was reduced to 36 overs per side due to rain, Namibia made 161 for 9, and then shot down Uganda for 61 all out in 17.5 overs, posting its third consecutive win in the tournament.

Namibia got off to a steady start, with Stephan Baard playing the lead role in a 32-run stand in 5 overs. Baard, who contributed 27 runs in the opening stand, fell first to Charles Waiswa, caught behind by Phillimon Selowa. With Sarel Burger dismissed snnnoon after for a duck, things slowed down for Namibia as they slipped to 32 for 2. Louis Petrus van der Westhuizen (52) and Craig Williams (23), then came together for a 40-run stand, to lead Namibia's recovery. Westhuizen's 71-ball knock contained just one four and one six. However, with wickets falling at regular intervals, and with seven batsmen failing to get into double figures, they could only manage a modest total of 161.

Waiswa was Uganda's best bowler, returning figures of 4 for 30 in his eight overs. He found good support from Patrick Ochan, who took 2 for 27.

Uganda's chase was in trouble early, with a rush of top-order wickets leaving the side struggling at 4 for 12 in 4.5 overs. With the highest partnership being only 20 runs between Uganda's captain Selowa and Richard Okia, and with none of the top order batsmen making an impact, Uganda's chase fell well short. Selowa made 23 of 41-ball, hitting one four to finish as Uganda's top scorer.

Klazinga, who took two of the first three wickets to fall, found good support from the rest of the attack with Johannes Smit and Christoffel Viljoen chipping in with two and three wickets respectively.

Namibia, who now top group B with three wins in as many matches, will face Papua New Guinea on Thursday. Uganda, who was already out of contention to make it to the Super Sixes, suffered its fourth consecutive defeat in the tournament.

Brief scores:
Namibia: 161 for 9 (van der Westhuizen 52, Waiswa 4-30)
Uganda: 61 (Klazinga 4-27, Viljoen 3-16)
Result: Namibia won by 100 runs
MOM: LP van der Westhuizen (Namibia)