Namibia v Ireland

Youth World Cup
Moors SCG, Colombo, 15 January 2000

Match Tied (D/L method)

NAMIBIA
*J Burger            c White b Gardiner   6  McGerrigle   5   1  30  0
S Swanepoel                 b Armstrong  39  Gardiner     5   0  22  2
S Gericke          c Shields b Gardiner   1  Armstrong   10   1  32  1
M van der Merwe  st Shields b McGonigle  70  White       10   3  31  3
P Burger                        b White   0  Spelman     10   1  34  0
B Van Rooi                      b White   7  McGonigle    8   2  30  1
W Slabber                   lbw b White   0
S Ludick                        not out  34
M Greeff                        not out   7
P Negongo
N Smith                                      FOW: 13  32  72  75  92
  Extras              (b 4, lb 3, w 15)  22       92 163
  Total              (7 wkts, 48 overs) 186

IRELAND
A O'Prey                 lbw b Van Rooi   3  Ludick       7   0  29  1
D Joyce            c J Burger b Slabber  43  Van Rooi     5   0  31  1
C Armstrong                    b Ludick   6  Greeff       2   0   9  0
A White                  lbw b P Burger  28  Slabber     10   3  24  1
R Haire                         not out  15  P Burger    10   3  18  2
J Mooney                     b P Burger  12  v der Merwe  1   0   4  0
*+I Shields                     not out   0  Smith        1   0   9  0
J Gardiner
K Spelman
D McGerrigle
J McGonigle                                  FOW: 11  33  94  94  114
  Extras              (b 2, lb 1, w 17)  20
  Total              (5 wkts, 36 overs) 127


Toss: Ireland                       Umpires: T Wijewardene & D Pathirana

Report

Ireland's final group match at the Under 19 World Cup ended in a tie against Namibia in a match Ireland should have won. Team Manager Ian Johnston reports:

A Bad day. Off field tragedy before play - umpire scheduled to stand in our match collapsed in hotel lobby and died in hospital shortly afterwars.

Irish bowling and fielding was lacklustre. Lots of playing and missing by Namibia and lots of 'streaky' runs. Again the spinners managed to exert some degree of control but some hitting at the end set a formidible target on a pitch which was slow, bouncy and receptive to spin!

Again we didn't get a start losing O'Prey at 11 (in fact our best start!!) and Armstrong at 33. A good stand of 61 in quick time between Joyce (who opened) and White followed but when White was given lbw down the pitch to a spinning bouncing leg-break we needed consolidation. Joyce holed out next over and we were looking shaky again.

With the light fading and the groundstaff hovering beside the covers we found ourselves just 2 runs ahead on Duckworth/Lewis scoring. The loss of Mooney suddenly put us behind and with instructions to score 9 off the next over without losing a wicket, Haire and Shiels scored the necesssary runs which included a spectacular 6 over mid wicket by Haire.

The 'par' score of 127/5 had been achieved - the light was offered and we accepted. No further play was possible so the tie ensured our third place in the grouping and a trip 'up-country' to the somewhat cooler climate at 1800m high amongst the tea-plantations.