Dubai , 27 March 2008Half centuries by Jan-Berrie Burger, Craig Williams, Louis Burger and Gerrie Snyman put Namibia in a commanding position against the Netherlands on the opening day of the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup in Windhoek , Namibia on Thursday.
Namibia , which lies 18 points behind leaders Kenya and just one adrift of second-placed Ireland , was 322-5 when bad light stopped play with seven overs still to be bowled.
At stumps, Williams was looking good for his maiden first-class century when he returned undefeated on 71. The 25-year-old right-hander has so far faced 150 balls and has hit four fours. With Williams was Bjorn Kotze on 16 not out.
Earlier, Peter Borren’s decision to bowl first on a good and sunny day backfired as the home team batsmen made the Dutch bowlers toil on an easy paced track.
Opener Jan-Berrie Burger led Namibia ’s run-riot when he batted beautifully and exquisitely to score a fine 81. Burger’s 89-ball innings was studded with 10 fours and two sixes.
Burger was involved in two partnerships that laid the foundation of a big first innings score. For the second wicket with Sarel Burger (26), Burger put on 94 runs and then added another 91 runs for the fifth wicket with Williams.
Snyman and Louis Burger also carried their good recent form into the match and scored sparkling half centuries. Synman clubbed seven fours and two sixes in his 46-ball 54 while Burger’s watchful 110-ball 57 included eight boundaries.
The two batsmen featured in a 54-run fourth wicket partnership.
For the Netherlands , Pieter Seelaar was the pick of bowlers on the first day. He returned figures of 21-5-71-2.
The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now the ICC’s premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members’ cricket schedule.
Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.
Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada earlier this year in the 2006-07 event.
The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 in the UAE.
ICC MEDIA RELEASE