By Canadian Press

Namibia stages dramatic comeback to edge Canada in World Cup League 2 cricket play

Mar 15, 2025 | 10:11 AM

WINDHOEK — Namibia rallied for a dramatic comeback to defeat Canada by 12 runs in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 play Saturday.

The one-day international featured several shifts in momentum as Canada, its inning halted temporarily by rain, chased a reduced victory target of 167 in 43 overs according to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stein formula. Namibia had finished at 186 all out in 49 overs.

Canada looked poised to win after its two openers combined for 79 runs. But with five overs to play, Canada needed 35 runs with five wickets to spare.

That was reduced to 16 runs off the final 12 balls with just two wickets remaining as Namibia came on.

Canada was reduced to one wicket left when Shahid Ahmadzai was caught behind on two with Canada at 154 for nine. That brought on No. 11 batsman Parveen Kumar, who was reduced to gripping the bat with one hand due to a finger injury.

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He lasted just two balls before being judged out leg-before-wicket. An unhappy Kumar, disputing the umpire’s decision, threw his bat in the air in disgust as he left the crease.

Canada finished at 154 all out in 49 overs with Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus, named player of the match, taking four wickets.

Namibia won the toss and elected to bat at Wanderers Cricket Ground. J.P. Kotze led the batting attack with 48 runs with Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton contributing 47 and Nikolaas David 33.

Kaleem Sana and Shahid Ahmadzai both took four wickets for Canada.

In response, Canadian teenage batsman Yuvraj Samra scored his first one-day international half-century in a 79-run opening partnership with Navneet Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal was the first to go on 25 runs from 54 balls including four fours. Samra, 18, was then caught behind on 53 after a 74-ball knock that featured four sixes and two fours.

Canada slipped from 79 with no outs to 102 for four as Namibia fought back.

Canada was 91 for three when the umpires halted play due to rain, for the second time, in the 28th over. When the teams returned, Canada was given its revised victory target.

Namibia removed Harsh Thaker with the first ball upon the teams’ return, bowled by Loftie-Eaton. Celebrating his 24th birthday, the Namibian bowler did a cartwheel to mark the wicket.

Canada edged the Namibians last Sunday in a game that went to a deciding super over when it finished in a tie. But Canada’s two games against the Netherlands were abandoned without a ball being played due to inclement weather.

Canada fell to 9-5-0 with two no-results in third place in the standings behind the U.S. and the Netherlands. Namibia stands sixth at 7-13-0

The World League 2 features eight teams — also including Nepal, Oman, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates — with each side playing 36 one-day internationals spread across nine triangular series through December 2026.

The top four teams move on to a 10-country World Cup Qualifier that will send the last four teams to the 2027 World Cup.

The bottom four teams can also progress to the qualifier but will have to get there via the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff which includes the top four teams from the Cricket World Cup Challenge League.

Canada won promotion to World League 2 from the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff. It sits in second place in the World League 2 standings at 9-4 with two no-results with 20 points, behind the U.S. (11-5, 22 points).

The Netherlands and Oman both have 18 points.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 15, 2025.

The Canadian Press