Namibia go into next week's UCB Bowl matches against Orange Free State 'A' with an outside chance of making the final of both the three-day and one-day competitions.

The World Cup qualifiers, for whom a final berth would be strong vindication of their inclusion in next season's South African Standard Bank League one day competition, must beat OFS 'A' at home in the one day competition and hope Griqualand West 'A' does the same against Western Province 'A'. In the three day competition it again needs to beat OFS 'A' and rely on Griquas 'A' either beating or drawing against Western Province 'A'.

The desire for bonus points to secure a finals berth partially caused Namibia's undoing against Eastern Province 'A' in their recent three day match in Port Elizabeth.

Replying to Eastern Province 'A's 316-8 declared, the Namibian batsmen were said by 'Beyond The Test World's' Namibian spies to have batted impatiently, their haste apparently influenced by the chase for the extra points. Namibia could only manage 185, with reliable opener Riaan Walters top scoring with 84 while skipper Danie Keulder chipped in with 32.

Earlier, Eastern's Wayne Murray, after initially being tied down, cut loose to hit 101, supported by Graham Hayward who scored an unbeaten 52. The pick of the Namibian bowlers were paceman Rudi van Vuuren (2-88) and left arm spinner Deon Kotze (2-60).

A weakened Namibia required an imposing 372 for victory after Eastern Province 'A' - 19 year old opener Sorel Burger remained 84 not out in Namibia's total of 195, while Walters also contributed with 39. Burger, born in Namibia, learnt his cricket while gaining his education in Griqualand West, but recently returned to his home country to live.

Namibia redeemed themselves somewhat in the 45-over-a-side one day match, beating Eastern Province 'A' by seven runs.

Gavin Murgatroyd, Namibia's form batsman, top scored with an unbeaten 85, while Keulder was not far behind on 78 not out, with Walters hitting 43.

The pick of the Namibian attack which limited Eastern Province 'A' to 248-7 were van Vuuren (2-34) and Bjorn Kotze (3-41).

Healthy respect for their opponents may have been a factor in Namibia's exciting draw in the three day match against Boland in Windhoek.

Namibia were just two wickets away from victory when play closed on the final day after the home team had deliberated as to when to declare their second innings of 8-196. Whether the declaration was made too late to bowl Boland out will be a matter of debate.

After winning the toss and electing to bat Namibia grinded to 252 all out, with you-guessed-it, Murgatroyd the chief run scorer, with 95. His 112 run fifth wicket partnership with Melt van Schoor (35) was the backbone of the innings. A reflection of the way the pitch was playing was the 270 balls the pair faced during their partnership.

Left arm spinner, R.Swiegelaar, was the main wicket-taker for Boland 'A', taking 4-74, including the wicket of Murgatroyd in his 90s.

Boland 'A' recovered from a disastrous 4-13 at the end of the first day to eventually make 217 all-out. Deon Kotze took 3-59 from 25 overs.

Awkward, inconsistent bounce on a newish pitch made life difficult for Namibia in their second innings of 8-196, which was scored off 101.5 overs.

Boland 'A's veteran campaigner, Kenny Jackson, took full advantage, claiming 5-60 off 33 overs. A fourth wicket partnership of Murgatroyd (58) and Deon Kotze (31) which realised 66 runs from 200 balls stablised the Namibian innings.

Deon Kotze again took 3-59, this time off 10 overs, as Boland staved off defeat with 129-8 off 56 overs.

A disastrous batting collapse cost Namibia likely victory in its one day match against Boland 'A'. After skittling Boland 'A' for a paltry 112, Namibia lost 9-63 when at one stage 1-36 to lose the vital game by 13 runs.

Van vuuren was the best Namibian bowler taking 3-20 froms even overs, with only Donovan Koch (47) providing any real opposition. To add to the ignominy, Boland 'A' batsman, Cyster, was given out handled the ball.

Sorel Burger (32) combined with Keulder to produce 32 runs for the second wicket before Keulder was leg before wicket to Jackson triggering the succession of Namibian wickets. Jackson finished with the figures of 8-1-18-2.

So, Namibia's season reaches an exciting climax before the national team hosts Kenya, Zimbabwe 'A', Sri Lanka 'A', the Netherlands and Canada in the Six Nations Challenge in April in Windhoek.

© ICC 2002