Report on Zimbabwe A v Namibia one-day match 16 January 2004 by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Zimbabwe A v Namibia

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In the first of three one-day matches, played at Country Club in Harare, Namibia pulled off a five-wicket victory against Zimbabwe A even more creditable than their three-day win earlier in the week.

 

They appeared to have little hope when set a target of 274. But J B Burger gave them a good start, Danie Keulder kept the momentum going, and finally all-rounder Gerrie Strydom hit an outstanding century to earn his team a remarkable victory in the penultimate over.

 

Zimbabwe A were obviously stung by their loss to Namibia in the three-day match and went in with determination after being put in to bat in good conditions by the Namibian captain Deon Kotze. Trevor Gripper and Hamilton Masakadza put up an enterprising opening partnership of 73, although it might have been nipped in the bud when Masakadza was dropped in the gully, not an easy chance, before scoring.

 

Gripper drove impressively in his 38 before, in the 15th over, he drove off-spinner Kotze over his head and was caught at long-on. Masakadza was less flamboyant, but scored 35 before he swept at Danie Keulder and was given out caught by the keeper off the glove.

 

Douglas Marillier looked impressive from the start, using his feet to drive the spinners, a rare trait in Zimbabwean batsmen. He drove powerfully and was ably assisted by Alester Maregwede, who scored 25 before Keulder pushed a ball through and had him trapped in front of his stumps. Zimbabwe A were well placed at 160 for four in the 34th over.

 

Charles Coventry scored 4 before being surprised and bowled by a fast yorker from Burton van Rooi. Marillier reached his fifty with a high six over square leg, his third, which was almost caught by a fielder who reached over the rope but failed to hold it. Not long afterwards he had an even closer escape, as the same fielder, stretching full-length above his head, managed to palm the ball up but failed to hold it before it hit the ground.

 

Marillier continued to live dangerously, but pulled and drove with great power. He finally fell for 97, taking one risk too many as he swept at a full-length ball from J B Burger and was bowled; 232 for five in the 44th over. Piet Rinke came and went for a single, yorked by van Rooi, and Gary Brent, on his arrival at the wicket, took a full-blooded straight drive from Gavin Ewing in the middle of his back as he tried to avoid it.

 

Ewing scored 32 off 30 balls before holing out at long-off off van Rooi, and off the final ball of the innings Waddington Mwayenga was run out, bat in the air, for 11, leaving Gary Brent unbeaten with 13. The total was 273 for eight wickets, which was expected to be too much for Namibia – unless the renowned J B Burger played a ‘blinder’. The most successful bowler was Keulder, with two for 42, while Snyman also took two wickets.

 

Burger began the Namibian innings with every intention of playing a blinder. He hit two powerful sixes over the covers in Brent’s first over and, despite losing Riaan Walters, caught at the wicket for 3, continued to blaze away at the best the bowlers could send down.

 

He raced to 45 off 22 balls, with three fours and four sixes, before falling to a fine catch by Mwayenga. Burger drove straight and powerfully, but Mwayenga at mid-on launched himself to his left to hold on to a superb low diving catch. In the ninth over, Namibia were 62 for two.

 

Ryan Bennett quickly dismissed Stephen Swanepoel, caught driving at short extra cover without scoring, while Dion Kotze (5) mistimed a pull and hit a sharp return catch to Rinke. However, all was not lost: Snyman joined Keulder and the pair batted superbly in a partnership of 113. There were few big shots, but they worked the ball around the field skilfully and put the Zimbabweans under increasing pressure.

 

Finally, in the 39th over, Ewing lured Keulder down the pitch to be stumped by Maregwede for 79. Thanks to such superb batting, Namibia were still in the match, but more than six an over were required.

 

Snyman now took over. He specialized in huge sixes over wide long-off, as Gripper soon found to his cost. Van Rooi was forced to retire, feeling ill, but he and Melt van Schoor were both invaluable supporting partners. Two were needed to win in the 49th over with Snyman on 97, and he accomplished both tasks off the third ball with a powerfully driven six into the sightscreen. His unbeaten 103 lasted 103 balls and he had set the seal on a superb victory for his team.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 John Ward)