Williams guides Namibia to win

DUBAI - Namibia captain Craig Williams slammed his second hundred, making 113 off 95 balls, in the final of the ICC Intercontinental Shield to lead his team to a six-wicket win over UAE on the fourth and final day at the ICC Global Cricket Academy Oval, a press release said.

Published: Mon 6 Dec 2010, 10:28 AM

Last updated: Wed 14 Jun 2023, 1:36 PM

Williams led from the front as Namibia made light work of UAE’s target of 187 and achieved victory in 39.4 overs on Sunday.

Earlier, the UAE, resuming on their overnight score of 403 for eight, were bowled out for 427 with top-order batsman Saqib Ali remaining unbeaten on 160, his knock had helped UAE to take an overall lead of 186.

Namibia began their chase shakily. The visitors slipped to 27 for two, losing Raymond van Schoor and Sarel Burger to Amjad Javed. But skipper Williams teamed up well with Ewald Steenkamp to steer Namibia out of trouble. The duo put on 57 for the third wicket before Steenkamp became Javed’s third victim.

Thereafter Williams was joined by Louis Burger, together this fourth wicket stand yielded 77 runs. Playing in his final match for Namibia, Louis Burger struck a six and three boundaries in his 47-ball 20 which gave the Africans’ innings some momentum. UAE skipper Khurram Khan claimed Louis Burger’s wicket.

But by then the match had slipped out of UAE’s grasp as Williams led from the front to help his side pocket the ICC Intercontinental Shield. Williams scored his eighth first-class hundred off 89 balls, a shade slower than the first innings when he achieved the feat off 85 balls. Williams hit 15 boundaries and two sixes in his match-winning innings.

UAE captain Khan was disappointed with the result. “It had a lot to do with the first hour of the first innings on the first day. The new ball did a lot, as you saw on the second day as well.

“That put us on the backfoot, but credit to our guys who did wonderfully well to bring us back into the contest,” Khan said.