Scotland's bowlers hailed as they finish off Namibia

Scotland bowler Con de Lange appeals for lbw to claim the wicket of Namibia batsman Zane Green. Pic: Donald MacLeod

In the end, the Scots came through at Mazars Grange’s Portgower Place by 51 runs (via DLS) after they bowled Namibia out for 217.

On Sunday, Scotland had posted 268-5 from their 43 overs with Berrington hitting a superb 110.

With the ball on Monday, all six Scottish bowlers used took wickets while there were some smart catches taken.

“It was a bit of a strange one having to come back on a second day and finish the match off, but I thought we showed real focus during the warm-up and the guys were on the mark with the ball straight away,” Berrington said.

“They did not let the Namibians settle and that was crucial because we know they have some big hitters up the top of the order who can cause some damage.

“Every bowler stuck to their plans well, while at this level you have to field well and we did that, guys clinging on to some tricky catches in a tough wind which was swirling around.

“On day one I thought that Craig Wallace brought some urgency to our running between the wickets and Preston Mommsen batted well with myself to set quite a good total.”

Scotland’s morning got off to the perfect start when they took two early wickets.

Namibia had resumed on 26-0 from 5.1 overs, but lost both openers in over eight and over nine.

The first man to head back to the pavilion was Louis van der Westhuizen, LBW to Safyaan Sharif for 33 from 34 balls.

And in the next over Chris Sole, the former Grange man now playing at Hampshire, had Stephan Baard caught by Mommsen for 12.

That left Namibia on 48-2 and in the 12th over Scotland took the third wicket.

Craig Williams tried to hit a boundary off Carlton’s Ali Evans, but the ball held up in the wind and, running back the way, vice-captain Con de Lange took a great catch to leave them 55-3.

Things continued to get better for the Scots in the next over when Sole had Jan Frylinck caught by Evans, putting the visitors in trouble on 56-4.

Heriot’s spinner Mark Watt then got in on the act in the 18th over, having Christi Viljoen caught and bowled to leave Scotland in the driving seat with Namibia 82-5.

Berrington’s great match continued in his first over with the ball when he had Gerhard Erasmus caught by Evans for 35.

That was in the 26th over and Namibia were 119-6 with 17 overs remaining, still requiring 150 runs to win. Wicket number seven fell to de Lange in the 29th over.

Wicketkeeper Zane Green then became de Lange’s second victim, but JJ Smit was doing his best to keep the Namibians in it with a couple of huge sixes.

With six overs to play they were 193-8 needing 76 runs to win. However, when Smit was caught on the boundary by Mommsen off the bowling of Sharif soon after for a well made 30 their chances had gone.

Tailender Zhivago Groenewald did hit some lusty blows as he made 42 not out from just 20 balls, but in the 40th over Bernard Sholtz was the last man out to Sharif to end the innings on 217.

Sharif took 3-30 while Sole and de Lange picked up two wickets apiece and Evans, Watt and Berrington all took one each.

The two teams meet again today at the same ground at 10.45am.