Scotland beat Namibia in thrilling T20 clash thanks to strong performances from Bellington and Lisk

Richie Berrington and Michael Leask worked in fine coordination to guide Scotland to victory over Namibia and bolster their prospects of qualifying for the T20 World Cup.

With a target of 156 runs, Scotland sealed the win at Kensington Oval with five wickets and nine balls to spare.

Scotland got off to a slow start, with Matthew Cross out, but Bellington and Lisk steadied the ship. The duo scored 74 runs from 42 balls, with Lisk hitting four sixes in his 35-run innings and Bellington remaining unbeaten on 47. Bellington ended the chase with a long-on catch off David Weiss, and he celebrated the win jubilantly.

Early bowling glory

Brad Curry played a major role in the pitching, finishing with a brilliant 16-2 in four innings. Brad Weir set the tone early, striking out JP Coates on the third pitch. Curry and Chris Saul followed, each contributing to Namibia’s 48-3 score at the powerplay end.

Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus fought back, hitting a half-century in just 30 balls, including a six off Leask. However, Leask had the last laugh as Matthew Cross bowled him shortly after Erasmus’ milestone. Namibia scored another 42 runs in the last five overs, losing four wickets, with Currie and Wheal stabilising the situation in the final moments.

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Scotland’s chase began with a spurt from Reuben Trumpelman, who dropped eight balls. Michael Jones, who was outstanding in the rain-affected match against England, scored 26 before being bowled by Erasmus. Brendan McMullen contributed 19 before a knock put Scotland in a precarious position.

Key positions for Bellington and Lisk

Faced with a necessary score of nearly 10 points per innings, Bellington and Lisk seized the initiative. Keofers scored 13 and 19 points from Tangani Lungameni and Wiese respectively to give Scotland the upper hand. Lisk’s powerful hits, including a six over the top of the big screen, set the stage for the final sprint. Although Lisk was eventually bowled out, Bellington scored the decisive six from Wiese to secure victory.

The win gives Scotland three points, putting pressure on England to beat Australia on Saturday. Scotland’s next match is crucial as they aim to continue their progress in the tournament.

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