Scotland Men defeated Namibia by 138 runs to complete an unbeaten ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 Series at Forfarshire CC.
A superb debut 100 from Michael English helped Scotland post 301-6, a total that always looked beyond Namibia, as Brad Currie and Gavin Main picked up three wickets apiece as the Eagles were bowled out for 163.
Reacting to a dream debut, Michael English said: “I’m pretty buzzing, I didn’t really imaging it would go like this, obviously I wanted it to, but didn’t imagine it would.
“Seeing Jasper (Davidson) and Charlie (Cassell) do so well on their debuts, it definitely gave me that extra bit of desire to make sure I performed, and gave me that freedom to know that I can do it.
“Doug (Watson) had said to just go and bat the way that I wanted to bat, and do what I’d done to get me here, I think I tried to keep that in my head as long as I could.
“I don’t normally get nervous, but I was definitely nervous on 99, it’s probably the toughest single I’ll ever score!”
After being inserted by Namibia, Charlie Tear and Michael English, opening the batting together for the first time, started positively, Tear finding the boundary three times in an opening partnership of 28.
He would be the first to fall, however, for 16, bowled by Ben Shikongo as he looked to push forward.
English, alongside Brandon McMullen, continued to play positively, hoisting Shikongo away for six over mid-wicket, before McMullen took Tangeni Lungamene over mid-off for six with a stunning shot.
Shaun Fouche would get the better of McMullen (15), having a strong appeal for caught behind turned down, before he breached his defences with a delivery that nipped back in and clipped the top of off.
That brought together English and Richie Berrington, and the pair set about building a strong partnership that would take the game away from Namibia.
The duo batted sensibly, scoring quickly with little risk, and after guiding the total past 100, English would reach his 50 with a push down the ground for one.
He would look to up the pace after passing that mark, and took Shikongo for a six over mid-wicket and four down the ground in consecutive balls.
However, it would be Berrington who really looked to be the aggressor, taking Gerhard Erasmus for back-to-back boundaries to reach his half-century, before continuing his assault.
The Scotland skipper carved Shaun Fouche away for back-to-back boundaries, but would fall looking to clear long-off the following ball, caught by Michael Van Lingen as he departed for a superb 89.
English would complete a remarkable debut as he reached his 100 from 117 balls, pushing Bernard Scholtz back down the ground for a single.
Matthew Cross (7) and Michael Leask (9) both fell cheaply, either side of English’s departure for 107, run out attempting a quick single.
Chris Greaves (31*) added some impetus at the death as he, alongside Mark Watt (10*) took Scotland to 301-6 from their 50 overs, adding a useful, unbroken 31 for the seventh wicket.
Namibia’s pursuit of that total started disastrously as Brad Currie struck with his second ball, trapping JP Kotze in front, as he departed for a golden duck.
Things didn’t get any better for Namibia, as McMullen struck twice to reduce the chasing side to 9-3, removing Jan Frylinck LBW, before Michael Van Lingen was caught excellently by Richie Berrington at short cover.
It was a start that pretty much killed any hopes Namibia had of hauling down their target of 302, and although Gerhard Erasmus and Malan Kruger added some much-needed resistance, the total always looked out of reach.
The pair added 72 for the fourth wicket, before Gavin Main made the breakthrough as he had Kruger (27) caught behind by Matthew Cross.
JJ Smit would fall for just 11, caught by Main off Currie, and when Erasmus fell, Currie’s third victim, for an excellent 53, Namibia had stumbled to 112-6.
Zane Green (28) and Shaun Fouche (18) added 32 for the seventh wicket, but both would be seen off by Michael Leask, bowled by the Scotland spinner.
Gavin Main would dismiss Bernard Scholtz and Tangeni Lungamene to finish with figures of 3-32, as Namibia were bowled out for 163.
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