ANY notion that the Super 12 fixtures at this T20 World Cup had fallen in Scotland’s favour can now firmly be placed in the bin.
Games against Afghanistan and then Namibia had looked a favourable start ahead of matches with India, New Zealand and Pakistan but it has turned out somewhat differently.
On the back of their 130-run hammering by Afghanistan on Monday, it was Namibia’s turn to feast on Scotland’s frailties, bowling them out for just 109 and then easing to their target with four wickets to spare.
Given the Scots found themselves at two for three after the first over, the size of the defeat could have been a lot worse but this was still a painful night in Abu Dhabi.
Shane Burger and his players now have a week to regroup before even harder challenges await.
“I’m very disappointed with the performance,” admitted Burger. “I thought our bowling and fielding was on a par if not better than theirs but defending that sort of total is very tough.
“It wasn’t the easiest of wickets, but it certainly wasn’t a 109 wicket and we have to do many things better. We do know that and we’ll certainly use the next five or six days to make sure we’re nailing those things that we have to improve.”
Scotland could not have got off to a worse start. Missing captain Kyle Coetzer who sat it out with a finger injury, any hopes of building a big score disintegrated in an horrific opening over that saw three wickets tumble for just two runs, both from wides.
George Munsey fell first ball – dragging on to his stumps – with Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington going not long after without managing a single run between them.
Bowler Ruben Trumpelmann could hardly believe his luck at the start he had delivered for his team who sensed that, even after just six balls, the game had already swung in Namibia’s favour, with MacLeod caught behind and stand-in captain Richie Berrington trapped leg before wicket.
It could have got worse for Scotland in the following over when Craig Wallace – in for Coetzer – didn’t seem to have grounded his bat as he and Matt Cross took a risky single. The third umpire had a look but sided with Wallace.
That gave the wicket-keeper an extra life but he didn’t make the most of it as he departed in the sixth over – lbw to David Wiese – to leave Scotland toiling again on 16/4.
This was threatening to be another embarrassment but Cross and Michael Leask belatedly offered some respectability as they stopped the bleeding and started to add some runs.
Scotland made it through to drinks at the halfway stage without losing anyone else but knowing they needed to accelerate the rate to post a tally that would give Namibia something to think about.
Leask tried to up the ante – taking Michael van Lingen for 10 runs from two balls – but, just as Scotland seemed to be settling in, Cross went on the first ball of the next over, bowled by Jan Frylink.
That was another setback and sent Chris Greaves out to partner Leask who seemed determined to do it on his own, smiting JJ Smit for a maximum, as Greaves chipped in with a few boundaries too.
Leask looked well set going into the 17th over but, looking to smash Smit away again, he instead missed the ball and was bowled for 44.
Mark Watt fell for just three but Greaves and Josh Davey saw Scotland through to the end of their overs, with Greaves run out for 25 on the final delivery as they finished on 109/8, their third lowest T20 World Cup score ever.
It didn’t look anywhere near enough and required Scotland to get off to a flier with the ball.
Instead, Namibia moved comfortably to 28 without loss before Scotland finally made the breakthrough. Safyaan Sharif banged in one short and van Lingen’s pull attempt was easily snapped up by Berrington.
Scotland didn’t take their second wicket until Namibia had reached 50. It was Greaves who claimed it, drawing Zane Green into a big shot and Munsey pouched the catch.
Dangerman Gerhard Erasmus was next to go for just four, bowled brilliantly by Leask, and when Cross brilliantly stumped Craig Williams off Watt’s bowling it gave Scotland a flicker of hope.
But even though two more wickets fell – the second with the scores tied – there was no danger of Namibia not seeing this one through, the victory sealed with a six to add to Scottish pain.
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