Cricket: Captain of routed Namibia defends Cup minnows

KIMBERLEY, South Africa - Namibia captain Deon Kotze defended his team's right to be at the World Cup after they suffered their second humiliating loss of the tournament.

The Africans crumbled to 84 all out against Pakistan on Sunday (South African Time), the fourth lowest score in World Cup history, just six days after conceding 340 runs against Zimbabwe, the fourth highest total ever recorded at the tournament.

Despite being hopelessly outclassed in a crushing 171-run defeat, Kotze so-called minnows deserve the chance to compete on cricket's biggest stage.

"I don't think cricket can grow globally if it's kept to a select group of 10 or 11 or 12 teams," Kotze said. "The only way the game will grow globally is if countries like Namibia, Netherlands, Canada and Kenya are allowed to play and are allowed to grow into the game.

"Zimbabwe are a classic example. After playing test cricket for years and finally now they are very competitive at this level.

"I think it'll be the same with us but the only way the game will grow globally is if the smaller teams are allowed to participate and if anything I think we should be allowed to participate more regularly."

Namibia's bowlers performed well against Pakistan on Sunday, restricting the 1999 World Cup runners-up to 255 for nine, before their batsmen collapsed in spectacular fashion.

They lost five wickets in the first three overs and were in serious danger of recording the lowest ever total in World Cup history, Canada's 45 against England in 1979, when they slumped to 42 for nine.

But Bjorn Kotze (24 not out) and Rudi van Vuuren (14) doubled the score with a last-wicket stand of 42.

"I'm very proud of the way we bowled today, but we obviously didn't bat anywhere near well enough," the captain said.

"I wouldn't really say it dents our confidence, though. Once guys got in for a while they realised they could actually play it so if anything it gives us a bit of heart.

"I don't think it's the sort of thing that we would now sit back and say we can't compete at this level.

"All the guys will still back themselves and believe they can make a contribution."

Meanwhile James Anderson produced the best World Cup bowling performance by an English cricketer for 20 years as Nasser Hussain's team beat the Netherlands by six wickets in their Group A game in East London today.

The 20-year-old Anderson, bowling 10 overs on the reel, recorded career-best figures of four for 25 as the Dutch side were restricted to 142 for nine after being put in.

But England's opening performance in the tournament, delayed by their refusal to play in Zimbabwe, was still rusty, even though they won after just 23.2 overs of their reply.

They reduced the Dutch side to 31 for five but then failed to wrap up the innings, Tim de Leede leading the Dutch rearguard with an undefeated 58.

Hussain said: "We lacked a bit of a killer punch but we bowled with great discipline. All credit to the Dutch batsmen, they all got stuck in.

"It was a good workout. To win in 23 overs against anyone is a good performance."

Nick Knight and Michael Vaughan both made 51 in reply but Marcus Trescothick (12), Andrew Flintoff (0) and Knight (51) all threw away their wickets in the run chase.

It was England's first game of the tournament after they refused to play Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday because of security concerns. England were forced to forfeit that match.

Anderson was named man of the match.

- REUTERS

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