ICC MEDIA RELEASE
Dubai, 30 January 2008
Sometimes cricket offers up something truly memorable to its followers. Just occasionally, feats of amazing skill or strength remind us why we fell in love with this game in the first place. Today was one of those days.
Namibia’s Gerrie Snyman has put together perhaps the most remarkable innings in the history of the ICC Intercontinental Cup. With his side in deep trouble having conceded a 46-run innings deficit to Kenya, Snyman came to the wicket at Sharjah Stadium with his team struggling on 9-2 in its second dig.
By the close of play on day two, the 26-year-old from Windhoek had shepherded his side to 241-8, contributing no less than 194 not out to the cause. So far, he has faced 177 balls in a knock that includes 18 fours and nine sixes. It is telling that the next highest score from a team-mate is just 13.
Not that Michael du Randt’s contribution should be overlooked either. The number-eight batsman dropped anchor to enable his partner to do all the scoring. Du Randt faced 140 balls for his 13 before he was finally dismissed in the third-last over of the day, caught by Peter Ongondo off the bowling of Collins Obuya.
It has kept Namibia’s hopes alive and Snyman will resume his innings at 0930 just six runs short of a maiden first-class double-hundred. His side is already 195 runs ahead but Steve Tikolo and his men will be confident of chasing that down so Snyman will be very keen to make sure his remaining two tail-enders hang around as long as du Randt.
In all, Kenya used eight bowlers with none getting more than two wickets apiece as they failed to control the rampaging Snyman. The best of the lot was probably sixth-change Obuya, who finished with figures of 2-16 off 12.4 overs.
Earlier in the day Kola Burger took five wickets as Kenya secured the first-innings points and edged ahead by 46 runs. Burger was well supported by Bjorn Kotze (2-23) and Louis Klazinga (2-52) as the Kenya tail failed to do what du Randt later managed.
In the end, Obuya was left stranded not out on 76 and Kenya would have been confident of rolling over Namibia as it took the field for the second time. But as Kenya soon found out, Snyman had other ideas and he has set up what should be a fascinating third day’s play on Thursday.
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 Dubai.
Dubai, 30 January 2008
Sometimes cricket offers up something truly memorable to its followers. Just occasionally, feats of amazing skill or strength remind us why we fell in love with this game in the first place. Today was one of those days.
Namibia’s Gerrie Snyman has put together perhaps the most remarkable innings in the history of the ICC Intercontinental Cup. With his side in deep trouble having conceded a 46-run innings deficit to Kenya, Snyman came to the wicket at Sharjah Stadium with his team struggling on 9-2 in its second dig.
By the close of play on day two, the 26-year-old from Windhoek had shepherded his side to 241-8, contributing no less than 194 not out to the cause. So far, he has faced 177 balls in a knock that includes 18 fours and nine sixes. It is telling that the next highest score from a team-mate is just 13.
Not that Michael du Randt’s contribution should be overlooked either. The number-eight batsman dropped anchor to enable his partner to do all the scoring. Du Randt faced 140 balls for his 13 before he was finally dismissed in the third-last over of the day, caught by Peter Ongondo off the bowling of Collins Obuya.
It has kept Namibia’s hopes alive and Snyman will resume his innings at 0930 just six runs short of a maiden first-class double-hundred. His side is already 195 runs ahead but Steve Tikolo and his men will be confident of chasing that down so Snyman will be very keen to make sure his remaining two tail-enders hang around as long as du Randt.
In all, Kenya used eight bowlers with none getting more than two wickets apiece as they failed to control the rampaging Snyman. The best of the lot was probably sixth-change Obuya, who finished with figures of 2-16 off 12.4 overs.
Earlier in the day Kola Burger took five wickets as Kenya secured the first-innings points and edged ahead by 46 runs. Burger was well supported by Bjorn Kotze (2-23) and Louis Klazinga (2-52) as the Kenya tail failed to do what du Randt later managed.
In the end, Obuya was left stranded not out on 76 and Kenya would have been confident of rolling over Namibia as it took the field for the second time. But as Kenya soon found out, Snyman had other ideas and he has set up what should be a fascinating third day’s play on Thursday.
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 Dubai.