- Namibia U-19: 135/3 in 36 overs (Target 189) (Tiaan Van Der Merwe 53, Francois Du Plessis 35)
- Uganda U-19: 68/10 in 23.5 overs (Nyiiro Jonathan 16, Ocen Peter 12)
- Namibia won by 121 runs (DLS Method)
A rain-affected encounter at the Unilag Oval saw Namibia put on a dominant display to dismantle Uganda by 121 runs in the DLS projected score in their 36-over showdown for third loss at the U19 Africa World Cup Qualifiers in Nigeria on Wednesday.
Namibia’s disciplined batting, coupled with a ruthless bowling attack, proved too much for the Baby Cricket Cranes, who struggled to gain any momentum.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Namibia built their innings with patience and control.
Openers Erik Lintvelt (15) and Tiaan Van Der Merwe (53) provided a steady platform, ensuring their side had wickets in hand for a late surge.
Though Uganda’s bowlers, led by Sohera Richard (2/26), kept the scoring rate in check, Namibia’s calculated approach paid off.
Van Der Merwe’s half-century anchored the innings while captain Francois Du Plessis added a much-needed late boost with an unbeaten 35 off 37 balls. His aggressive intent in the closing stages, alongside Ben (3*), pushed Namibia to a respectable 135/3 after 36 overs.
Despite keeping Namibia from running away with the game, Uganda’s bowling unit struggled to make inroads when it mattered most. Jordan Okecho (0/10 in 4 overs) and Abdulaziz Tandia (0/28 in 8 overs) maintained tight lines, but the lack of breakthroughs allowed Namibia to set a challenging target.
Chasing 136, Uganda never looked settled at the crease. Erik Lintvelt provided the early spark for Namibia, dismissing Owilli Robert for 10, before the rest of the bowling attack took over. Max Heingo (3/20) ripped through the top order, dismissing Uganda captain Olipa Gerald for a duck and Kidega Christopher soon after.
With Namibia’s bowlers applying relentless pressure, Uganda found themselves in deep trouble at 35/6. Junior Uyage Taanyada (2/20) and Francois Du Plessis (2/11) cleaned up the middle order, while Rowan Van Vuuren (1/12) contributed to the demolition.
Nyiiro Jonathan (16) and Ocen Peter (12*) tried to resist, but it was too little, too late. Uganda was bowled out for just 68 in 23.5 overs, handing Namibia a comprehensive 67-run win.
Following the defeat, Baby Cricket Cranes’ Head Coach Emmanuel Isaneez addressed the team’s disappointing performance, admitting the squad had hoped for a stronger showing against Namibia.
“We thought we would come hard and get this win to remain up there, maybe second or third,” he said. “It’s not so good in the camp because we lost badly. We thought the batters would come to the party today, but the top order collapsed.”
Isaneez also pointed to the impact of rain, which revised Uganda’s target:
“The rain interrupted, and we got a backward score from 136 to 189. We started off well in the powerplay, but we lost a wicket early. That caused panic in the dressing room, and we couldn’t rotate the strike effectively.”
With Uganda losing three of their four matches so far, Isaneez acknowledged the mental challenges his players are facing.
“I don’t know what’s running through their minds at the moment. I’m trying to mentally prepare them, but they’re not applying themselves. The wicket here is slower and flatter than what we’re used to, so the batters need to adjust and apply themselves better.”
Despite the setback, Uganda still has a chance to improve their position in the tournament.
“If we beat Nigeria in our last encounter, we may remain up by net run rate,” Isaneez explained. “Right now, the camp is quiet because of our losses, but in cricket and sports, this can happen to any team. We, as coaches, will try to keep the boys strong.”
With the disappointment of the Namibia defeat still fresh, the Baby Cricket Cranes will look to bounce back when they face hosts Nigeria on April 6th at the TBS Oval.
Sunday, April 6
- Nigeria vs. Uganda – 11:30 am, EAT | TBS Oval
Uganda currently sits in fourth place, with Sierra Leone and Nigeria yet to earn any points, putting them at risk of relegation.
Even a strong performance against Nigeria will be just for pride as it cannot guarantee them any hope of staying in Africa’s Division One tier.
