Namibia back in playoff contention after big win

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus justified his decision to send Bermuda in after six of their top seven fell for single digits. This eventually helped set up a six-wicket win at ICC Academy Oval 2 on Wednesday.

Jan Frylinck struck off the second ball as Kamau Leverock holed out to mid-off. Bermuda's other big fish Delray Rawlins was reeled in before the Powerplay, top-edging a slog off Christi Viljoen to wicketkeeper Zane Green. When Terryn Fray was out playing a loose drive to mid-off, Bermuda were rocked at 23 for 3 inside six overs.

Left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz then capitalized on the early work done by the medium pacers to rip apart the middle order. He struck with his very first ball, as Janeiro Tucker was deceived in flight to be stumped. Three balls later, he had Deunte Darrell trapped in front for 2 before inducing a drive by Malachi Jones to long-off, rounding off his haul at 48 for 7.

Stand-in captain Rodney Trott was out to leave them 50 for 7. But Okera Bascome, dropped down to No. 8 from his usual opener's role, shepherded the tail as Bermuda rallied to score 56 for the final two wickets.

Bascome seized on the short ball to pull Viljoen for four and six before he was finally bowled with a full delivery for 37 in the 16th. Derrick Brangman added an unbeaten 23 off 21 balls to stretch the innings to the full 20 overs.

In reply, Niko Davin made light work of the chase. He started by driving Jones for a straight six in the opening over. Then he drove two more over long-off, and another over midwicket off Derrick Brangman's left-arm spin in the second to bolt to 33 off 9 balls. He finally fell in the third, top-edging a slock off Leverock to cover.

Leverock stood n Namibia's march to the target. Two balls after claiming Davin, he snared JP Kotze for a golden duck with a short ball feathered down the leg side. In his third over, he claimed Craig Williams at backward point to a fine catch from Fray to make it 65 for 3 after seven overs. But he didn't get much support from the other end.

Bermuda are still mathematically alive for the playoff stage, but need to beat both Scotland and Netherlands in their remaining matches and have other results go their way. Namibia face Kenya and Singapore in their remaining two matches and wins in both would virtually guarantee their place in the playoff stage.