Namibia not up to World Cup

Boland kept their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the Standard Bank Cup alive with a comfortable 111-run win over Namibia at BOE Park on Friday night. The overriding impression left was how plainly unprepared Namibia are ahead of the World Cup which starts in February.

After struggling against the bowling attacks of Western Province, Eastern Province, Free State and now Boland, you have to wonder how they will do against the bowling attacks at the World Cup. The highest score Namibia have scored in the competition is the 124 they got against WP on November 13 at Newlands.

Namibia start their World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on July 10, before playing against Pakistan, England, India and Australia.

The ICC has invited several of the smaller cricket-playing countries in an effort to increase the profile of the game in those countries. But you do have to wonder what the use is of having the likes of Namibia, and perhaps Canada and even Holland at what is supposed to be cricket showpiece event.

That said, Boland played well enough to win their third match of the competition to top their pool for today at least. The winner of the Free State and Western Province match at Newlands tonight will top the group at the end of the match.

While Boland did get the win, their performance, especially their batting, was just not good enough against a modest attack. Henry Davids (21), Con de Lange (40) and debutant Chad Baxter (37) all gave their wickets away after doing the hard work of establishing themselves at the wicket.

De Lange and Baxter added 64 runs for the fifth partnership which formed the basis of Boland's total of 190 for eight from their 45 overs. Considering Namibia's previous troubles in front of the wickets, Boland were never going to be in trouble.

The only highlight in an otherwise woeful performance for Namibia was the bowling of right-arm medium-pacer Bjorn Kotze, who took four for 40 in his nine overs.