MrDependable
County Cricketer
- Joined
- May 13, 2022
Namibia Falls to Morocco in ODI Debut
Centurion, South Africa - In a historic clash in the AFCON Africa Cup of Nations on March 16, Namibia made its ODI debut, facing off against Morocco. In an intense encounter, Morocco emerged victorious, securing a 55-run win and setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.
Hervé Hocquard Shines as Morocco Sets the Pace
Morocco, winning the toss, elected to bat first and posted a formidable total of 328/4 in their allotted 50 overs. The star of the show was Morocco's Hervé Hocquard, who played a remarkable innings, scoring 146 off just 94 deliveries.
Namibia's Bowling Efforts and Early Losses
Namibia's key bowler, Jaquan Engelbrecht, managed to claim two crucial wickets, but he proved to be expensive, conceding 74 runs in his 10 overs. Bertus Coetzee chipped in with one wicket and also made an impact by taking a catch and participating in a run-out.
Challenging Chase and Early Woes
Chasing a daunting target of 329 runs, Namibia encountered early setbacks as opener Leruo Thatayotlhe was dismissed for a golden duck, losing his wicket on the very first ball. The other opener, Schalk van der Vyver, displayed remarkable resilience, falling just one run short of a century with a score of 99 off 87 balls.
Promising Partnerships and Morocco's Bowling Prowess
Schalk van der Vyver formed crucial partnerships during his innings, including a 100-run stand with Martin Botha (37 off 58) and an 81-run partnership with skipper Jaques van der Watt (42 off 43). Marick de Bruyn (38 off 41) and Mykel Obuile (30 off 41) also contributed, but Morocco's bowling attack, led by El Mahi Khatibi, Pierre-Marie Rapace, and Abderrahim Zniber (each picking up 2 wickets) and Zubayr Bennis (1 wicket), managed to restrict Namibia.
Points Table
# | TEAM | MAT | WON | LOST | TIED | N/R | PTS | NRR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +1.946 | |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -0.408 | |
3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.100 |
The top two teams at the end of the group stage advance to the final.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, Namibia's debut in ODI cricket was a momentous occasion, and the team displayed determination and glimpses of promise. Namibia will now turn its focus to the upcoming match against hosts South Africa on March 18 at Bloemfontein, eager to make its mark in this prestigious tournament.
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