The afterglow from Namibia's World Cup qualification continues for the southern Africans following recent emphatic wins over Griqualand West in UCB Bowl One Day and Three Day matches in Kimberley, South Africa.

Spearheaded by centuries in both matches from Gavin Murgatroyd, Namibia thumped Griquas in the three-day match by 8 wickets, before a seven wicket win with more than seven overs to spare in the one day match.

The Namibian camp rated Murgatroyd's innings' amongst his best, as he slammed five sixes and 23 fours in his score of 183 smote from just 212 balls, in guiding Namibia to 392 all out replying to Griquas' first innings total of 191 all out.

Rudi van Vuuren (4-40) and a miserly spell of 1-7 from 5 overs from Burton van Rooi were the destroyers for Namibia.

Riaan Walters (76) had provided the Namibia innings with a solid base, before Murgatroyd joined with JB Berger and Louis Berger in considerable partnerships. JB Berger smashed 55 off 44 deliveries in adding 103 with Murgatroyd who then teamed with Louis Berger in a liason which reaped 151 for the seventh wicket.

Lennie Louw tightened the Griquas second innings bowling 25 overs, conceding 35 runs while picking up three wickets. Pace bowler Bjorn Kotze instigated the beginning of the end for Griquas by removing their key batsman, Brooker, and subsequently a procession of wickets followed. A notable feature of the innings from Namibia's viewpoint was stand-in wicket-keeper JB Berger's outstanding feat in not conceding one bye during the innings.

Opening batsman, Marius Van der Merwe combined with captain Danie Keulder for a partnership of 53 to ensure an eight wicket Namibian victory.

Murgatroyd maintained his damaging form of the three day game in the one-dayer slamming an unbeaten 102 from 95 balls, hitting three sixes and 11 fours as Namibia overtook Griquas' 201-10 with 45 balls to spare.

Typical of the Namibians' all-round talent, was the performance in this match of Bjorn Kotze who destablised the Griquas' innings with 4-28 from nine overs, before joining Murgatroyd in a partnership of 104 for the fourth wicket, with Kotze unbeaten on 53.

Namibian management were particularly pleased with the performances against Griqualand West as most of the Griquas team had First Class experience.

Injury and illness undermined the start of Namibia's UCB Bowl campaign at hone against Western Province A in Windhoek, fielding a weakened bowling attack .

Namibia began promisingly with Vander Merwe and Keulder producing a 76 run partnership before a middle order collapse saw the ICC Trophy runner-up crash from 120-2 to 140-6. Burton van Rooi rallied well in the latter order producing some much needed runs.

Namibia actually started their second innings with a slender 7 run lead thanks to a tight bowling display from Louw with his left arm spinners. Although not taking wickets, Louw created pressure by conceding just 33 runs from 17 overs.

Western Province A's left arm spinner however, Paul Harris, a past nemesis for Namibia, was more decisive, nabbing 6-64 from 32 overs in Namibia's 200 all-out. Burton van Rooi again shone with a fighting late order innings of 42.

The loss of opening bowlers, Bjorn Kotze (gastro-interitis) and Rudi van Vuuren (injury) was catastrophic for Namibia, and the visitors from the Western Cape were able to win with four wickets in hand.

Murgatroyd showed early signs of what was to come against Griquas' belting 77 from 104 balls in Namibia's 206-8 from 45 overs in the one day match against Western Province A. 50 runs (11 fours and a six) came from boundaries in Murgatroyd's innings. According to Namibian officials, their batsmen found the short pitched deliveries of the Province bowling difficult to handle.

Without their opening bowlers, van Vuuren and Kotze, Namibia could not retaliate and Province coasted to four wicket win.

Namibia's next UCB Bowl matches are against the competition's new team, Natal Inland at Pietermaritzburg, the venue for its World Cup match against India. Officials are pleased that the UCB Bowl will give them experience in playing on all the venues they will play on during the World Cup.

The team began the season on a positive note, hosting and winning a quadrangular tournament against Western Province Academy, Boland Academy and South African Correctional Services teams.

The good news from World Cup qualification just keeps on coming, with officials about to announce a significant sponsorship, and the national team reaping honours at the recent national sports awards.

In what official Laurie Pieters described as a major boost to the development programme, Pepsi will pour $Nam50,000 into the game over the next 12 months, funds Mr. Pieters said his administration would try to ensure every Namibian has a chance to play the sport.

Further evidence of cricket's growing popularity in Namibia came at the recent Namibia Annual Sports Awards with the national team winning five out of eight catergories.

© ICC