Forthill, Broughty Ferry, Dundee

Scotland v Namibia

26th July 2024

Scotland completed their second four-match round of the 2024/26 Cricket World Cup League 2 tournament with a record of three wins and a draw, taking them to the top of the league.  Debutant Michael English who scored a century was the star turn, although aided and abetted by captain Ritchie Berrington's 89.  The pair between them put on a partnership of 170, which took Scotland from 61/2 to 231/3.  The home side eventually posted an impressive 301 tally for Namibia to chase down.

However, a couple of quick lbw decisions soon saw the back of Namibians Jean-Pierre Kotze and Jan Frylink.  And when Brandon McMullen had Michael van Lingen caught in the sixth over that was sort of that.  Visiting captain Gerhard Erasmus offered up a modicum of resistance, grinding out a half-century before leaving us, but the rest of his team-mates tamely capitulated.  Namibia were all bowled out in the 41st over, still some 139 runs shy of their to-win target.

As stated earlier, this match was Michael English's debut for Scotland.  That a 29-year old can make a century on his first appearance for his country, does reinforce my view that this cricket business can be an odd sport for a semi-casual observer like myself to make sense of at times.  Although, I do appreciate, this was perhaps not the strongest of opposition, I nevertheless found myself asking "where has this chap been hiding for the last ten years?"  Ayr, appears to be the answer.

Forthill is the home of Forfarshire Cricket Club, and has been
sporadically hosting Scotland matches since 1924

Magic Michael English

Forthill Cricket Ground

Scotland's next round of matches in the Cricket World Cup League 2 takes place in October 2024 in the United States, where they will face the hosts and Nepal twice each.