Sarel Burger keeps Namibia steady
Half-centuries from Sarel Burger and Wian van Vuuren steadied Namibia's innings after a shaky start against the United Arab Emirates in Windhoek
Cricinfo staff
05-Dec-2009
Namibia 255 for 5 (Burger 65, van Vuuren 55) v United Arab Emirates
Scorecard
Scorecard
Half-centuries from Sarel Burger and Wian van Vuuren steadied Namibia's innings after a shaky start on the first day of their ICC Intercontinental Shield match against the United Arab Emirates in Windhoek.
Namibia went into the game missing their regular opener Gerhard Randolph and were soon jolted, losing their first two wickets in the space of four runs after an opening stand of 43. Burger and van Vuuren, who was called up to replace middle-order batsman, Norbert Manyande, stabilised the innings with a 103-run partnership for the third wicket.
Van Vuuren made 55 before he was caught by the wicketkeeper Abdul Rehman off Fayyaz Ahmed with the score on 150. Burger then added another 53 runs with captain Craig Williams and Namibia were looking solid, having passed 200 for the loss of only three wickets. However, both Burger and Williams were dismissed in the space of six balls with the score on 203 and UAE were right back in the game.
Nicholaas Scholtz and Louis van der Westhuizen were both unbeaten on 22 when play ended. Medium-pacer Qasim Zubair, who dismissed the openers, was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for 21 off 13 overs.