Hong Kong beaten by Namibia in second WCL2 warm-up match

An improving Hong Kong could not repel the challenge from a feisty Namibia XI in their second warm-up match prior to the start of the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in Dubai.

Najeeb Amar and Aizaz Khan were rested for the game allowing Adil Mehmood and Maxwell Tucker the opportunity to press for a spot in the starting XI for the opening match of the tournament against Uganda.

Hong Kong XI skipper for the day, Courtney Kruger, won the toss and, despite a dust storm sweeping the ground, elected to bat first on a heavily cracked wicket at the Emirates Sevens stadium. The much vaunted Namibian bowling attack had the better of the early exchanges and Roy Lamsam was an early casualty, as he edged the impressive Klazinga to the wicket-keeper. Kruger and Hussain Butt batted batted through a quiet period but Butt (4) was unfortunately run-out in the 15th over when the total had reached 40. Hong Kong struggled to put together any partnerships of substance as wickets fell at inopportune times and only 66 runs were scored from the first 25 overs for the loss of 4 wickets. Kruger (32) fell to another run-out while Mark Chapman could only score 12 in his first hit out after joining the team from New Zealand the previous day. Hong Kong limped past 100 in the 34th and it was only when Irfan Ahmed (29 from 28 balls) combined with Nizakat Khan (73 from 70 balls) that the innings finally burst into life. Both batsmen played the ball with skill, especially during the batting powerplay which was taken between the 37-42 overs and 91 runs were scored off the 10 overs between the 35th and 45th overs. However once Nizakat Khan fell, the innings was wrapped up quickly for a total of 218 off 49.5 overs.

For Namibia XI, Kotze was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4-27 from 7.5 overs, including three bowled victims and one LBW.

Hong Kong's opening bowling attack failed to provide an early break through, however they did bowl a more containing line than they had done to Bermuda in the previous match to limit the run scoring of the Namibian batters. Adil Mehmood grabbed the first wicket, trapping AJ Burger LBW for 25. Nadeem Ahmed bowled S Burger for 19 and E Steenkemp (49) fell in similar fashion to Asif Khan shortly thereafter. Namibia's score stood at 117-3 at the halfway mark in their innings, with the match evenly balanced.

By now the choking dust storm had died away making batting and fielding conditions imminently more comfortable for all the players. Hong Kong's slow bowlers continued to apply pressure and through that pressure they grabbed the wickets of WIlliams (28) and Vanschoor (14) in quick succession. The game could have gone either way with Namibia still needing 83 runs from the last 15 overs but Snyman (39*) and Venderwesthuizn (28*) upped the ante in the batting powerplay and Namibia XI surged to victory in 45 overs for the loss of 5 wickets.

Asif Khan once again impressed for Hong Kong XI with figures of 1-19 from six overs and plenty of energy in the field. Nadeem Ahmed also impressed with 1-15 from five overs but a blow on the toe while batting limited his bowling effort on the day. Nizakat Khan (1-27) and Adil Mehmood (1-42) were the other wicket takers for Hong Kong XI.

Full Scorecard: HKG XI lost to NAM XI by 5 wkts

Hong Kong starts its WCL Division 2 campaign in earnest on 8th April with a very important match against Uganda. The last time these two teams meet saw Uganda winning by a solitary run in a WLC3 match played in Argentina.