Namibia vs Netherlands, Dubai

Wesley Barresi (120) and Ben Cooper (109*) shared a match-turning stand of 236 for the second wicket to pilot Netherlands to an eight-wicket win over Namibia at the ICC Academy Ground No 2 in Dubai. Netherlands hunted down the target of 270 in just 41.1 overs. With this well-earned win, Netherlands have ensured that they will finish at top of the points World Cricket League Championship table (presently 20 points). This in turn helped Netherlands secure a place in the 13-team ICC ODI League slated to start in May 2020 and the World Cup Qualifiers, in Zimbabwe in March next year. Namibia, meanwhile, will play in Division 2.

In pursuit of a competitive target, JJ Smit removed Stephan Myburgh in the first over for no score. However, Baresi, the former Easterners wicketkeeper-batsman, and Cooper stitched an enterprising stand to put the European country on course for a victory. Barresi cracked 11 fours and a six while the New South Wales-born Cooper crunched 15 boundaries and two sixes to keep the scorecard ticking over. Bernard Scholtz, the veteran left-arm spinner, known for his discipline, finally broke the stand by dismissing Barresi in the 38th over. Peter Borren (16*), the skipper, and Cooper then helped Netherlands cross the target with ease.

Earlier, Louis van der Westhuizen (54), the all-rounder, and Gerhard Erasmus (52) had played well measured knocks to propel the African country to a sizeable total. Roelof van der Merwe snared a three-wicket haul for Netherlands. This match also saw the return of Netherlands' star all-rounder Ryan Ten Doeschate after a gap of six years. Netherlands still have one match left in the WCLC versus Namibia on December 8.

Brief scores: Namibia 269/8 in 50 overs (Louis van der Westhuizen 54, Gerhard Erasmus 52; Roelof van der Merwe 3-54) lost to Netherlands 270/2 in 41.1 overs (Wesley Barresi 120, Ben Cooper 109; Bernard Scholtz 1-50) by 8 wickets