News

WINDHOEK, Namibia – Despite a determined batting display the Ireland Wolves fell just seven runs short of victory in the opening one-day game of a five-match series at the Wanderers Cricket Ground.
For the first time on this tour the Wolves captain Neil Rock won the toss and elected to give his bowlers the chance to flex their muscles. Namibia got their innings off to a fast start, as Divan La Cock hit the ball around with ease. La Cock struck 70 from just 68 balls (10 fours and two sixes), and combined for a 100-run opening stand with Stephen Baard (40).

With the Wolves bowling unit struggling for the breakthrough, it was newly-arrived Fionn Hand that came up trumps when he nicked Baard off, with Rock accepting the straight-forward catch gratefully.

Leg-spinner Gareth Delany was then introduced in the 21st over and almost immediately removed La Cock with a ball that deceived the batter, bowling him with Namibia 125-2.

An excellent catch by Jeremy Lawlor at point got the wicket of Stephen Fouché in the 24th over, and with the wickets finally falling, the Namibian middle-order batters looked under pressure for the first time. That pressure told as both Nicol Loftie-Eaton (22) and Malan Kruger (23) both fell to catches at mid-on. Seeking a big finish, JJ Smit (41) and Karl Birkenstock (23) added runs, and the home side finished on 253-9 from their 50 overs, with Delany 3-42 and Josh Manley 3-47 the pick of the Wolves bowlers.

The Wolves’ response was determined, but a combination of bad luck and some excellent bowling saw the Wolves fall short by just seven runs. Curtis Campher (56) and Neil Rock (47) both batted superbly, but the Namibian bowling attack showed great discipline.

The challenging nature of this tour continued when Murray Commins (11*) had to retire injured with a painful back spasm.

When Delany fell for 25, the Wolves were 173-5 needing 81 from the last 53 balls. Rock’s late order cameo of 47 from 38 balls gave the target a shake, but just when he looked likely to lead his side to an unlikely win, he was caught by Ngupita out on the boundary.

Both sides return to the same ground tomorrow for the second one-day game at 9.30am (local time) or 8.30am (Irish time).

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland Wolves v Namibia Men, 1st One-Day Match, Windhoek, 29 March 2022

Namibia 253-9 (50 overs; D La Cock 70, JJ Smit 41; G Delany 3-42)
Wolves 246-8 (50 overs; C Campher 56, N Rock 47; M Ngupita 2-19)

Namibia won by 7 runs

See full scorecard

Gerard Mulreaney
Ireland Wolves fell just 8 runs short of victory
No
Connaught