Cricket is a sport that unites fans across the globe, and matches between associate nations like Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard often showcase the growing talent in the cricketing world. These two teams, both part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Associate Member program, have faced off in several exciting encounters, particularly in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (2023-27) and T20 Internationals. In this article, we’ll dive into a detailed analysis of a recent match between the Oman National Cricket Team and the Namibia National Cricket Team, focusing on their February 16, 2025, clash in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman. We’ll break down the match scorecard, highlight key moments, and provide a comprehensive table summarizing the performances. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or new to the game, this article is written in a simple, engaging tone to make it easy to follow.
The Context of the Match
The Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on February 16, 2025, was the 53rd match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, a tournament designed to give Associate nations a pathway to qualify for the Cricket World Cup. Both teams have been competitive in this league, with Oman known for their resilient batting and disciplined bowling, while Namibia brings aggressive batting and sharp fielding to the table. This match, played at Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), was a crucial one for both teams as they aimed to climb the league standings.
Oman, playing on home soil, had the advantage of familiar conditions, while Namibia arrived with confidence after their performances in earlier matches. The stage was set for a thrilling contest, and the game didn’t disappoint, with Oman emerging victorious by 2 wickets in a low-scoring, tense affair.
Match Overview
Namibia won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that set the tone for a bowler-dominated match. The pitch at Al Amerat offered assistance to both seamers and spinners, making it challenging for batsmen to score freely. Namibia was bowled out for just 96 runs in 33.1 overs, thanks to some brilliant bowling by Oman’s Aamir Kaleem and Samay Shrivastava. In response, Oman chased down the target of 97 runs in 22.4 overs, but not without a fight, as Namibia’s bowlers, led by Gerhard Erasmus and Bernard Scholtz, made the chase nervy.
Let’s break down the match by innings and explore the key performances that shaped the outcome.
Namibia’s Batting: A Struggle Against Oman’s Bowlers
Namibia’s innings got off to a shaky start. The opening pair of Zane Green and Malan Kruger managed only 5 runs before Green was dismissed early. The middle order showed some resistance, particularly from Gerhard Erasmus (15 runs) and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (21 runs), but wickets fell at regular intervals. Oman’s bowlers exploited the conditions brilliantly, with Aamir Kaleem and Samay Shrivastava leading the attack.
- Key Performances:
- Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton: Scored 21 runs off 33 balls, providing some stability in the middle order.
- Gerhard Erasmus: Contributed 15 runs, but couldn’t convert his start into a big score.
- Bernard Scholtz: Remained not out on 7, but lacked support from the lower order.
Oman’s bowling was disciplined, with Kaleem’s spin and Shrivastava’s pace proving too much for Namibia. The powerplay (Overs 0.1–10) saw Namibia score just 30 runs for the loss of 4 wickets, setting a grim tone for the innings. By the drinks break at 19 overs, Namibia were 54/4, and the collapse continued as they were bowled out for 96 in 33.1 overs.
Oman’s Bowling: A Masterclass in Control
Oman’s bowlers were the stars of the first innings. Aamir Kaleem was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, taking 2 wickets for 16 runs in his spell. Samay Shrivastava was equally impressive, picking up 4 wickets for 56 runs, including crucial breakthroughs that dismantled Namibia’s batting lineup. Sufyan Mehmood also chipped in with 2 wickets, ensuring Namibia couldn’t build any significant partnerships.
- Bowling Highlights:
- Aamir Kaleem: 2/16 in his spell, including the wicket of Erasmus.
- Samay Shrivastava: 4/56, breaking the back of Namibia’s middle order.
- Sufyan Mehmood: 2/15, economical and effective in the death overs.
The combination of spin and pace kept Namibia’s batsmen guessing, and Oman’s fielding backed up their bowlers with sharp catches and tight ground fielding.
Oman’s Batting: A Tense Chase
Chasing a modest target of 97, Oman would have hoped for a straightforward victory. However, Namibia’s bowlers had other plans. The chase began steadily, with Oman reaching 42/1 in the first powerplay (Overs 0.1–10). Jatinder Singh (25 runs) and Vinayak Shukla (17 runs) provided a solid start, but Namibia’s bowlers struck back, reducing Oman to 58/7 at one stage.
Aamir Kaleem, coming in at No. 6, played a match-defining knock of 21 runs off 33 balls, guiding Oman through a tense phase. Shakeel Ahmed (6 runs) and Hassnain Shah (16 runs) also played crucial roles in the lower order, ensuring Oman crossed the finish line with 164 balls to spare, finishing at 100/8 in 22.4 overs.
- Key Performances:
- Aamir Kaleem: 21 runs off 33 balls, steadying the ship when wickets were falling.
- Jatinder Singh: 25 runs off 36 balls, providing a solid foundation.
- Hassnain Shah: 16 runs, including a six, to seal the chase.
Namibia’s Bowling: Fighting Till the End
Namibia’s bowlers put up a spirited fight despite defending a low total. Gerhard Erasmus was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets, including the crucial scalp of Shakeel Ahmed. Bernard Scholtz also bowled tightly, picking up 2 wickets for 26 runs. Ruben Trumpelmann and JJ Smit chipped in with wickets, but the lack of runs on the board meant Namibia couldn’t quite pull off the upset.
- Bowling Highlights:
- Gerhard Erasmus: 2 wickets, including a caught dismissal of Shakeel Ahmed.
- Bernard Scholtz: 2/26, maintaining pressure with his spin.
- Ruben Trumpelmann: 2/32, striking early in the powerplay.
Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard (February 16, 2025)
Below is a detailed scorecard of the match, summarizing the batting and bowling performances of both teams.
Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard (ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, 53rd Match, February 16, 2025)
Venue: Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat
Result: Oman won by 2 wickets (with 164 balls remaining)
Player of the Match: Aamir Kaleem (Oman) – 21 runs (33 balls) & 2/16
Namibia Innings (50 overs maximum)
|
Batsman |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zane Green (wk) |
c †Pratik Athavale b Kaleem |
4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Malan Kruger |
b Shrivastava |
39 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 114.71 |
|
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton |
c Jatinder Singh b Shrivastava |
21 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 63.64 |
|
Gerhard Erasmus (c) |
c Vinayak Shukla b Kaleem |
15 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 60.00 |
|
Jan Frylinck |
lbw b Shrivastava |
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
JJ Smit |
c †Pratik Athavale b Mehmood |
0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Jan Balt |
c Odedra b Shrivastava |
35 | 50 | 3 | 0 | 70.00 |
|
Ruben Trumpelmann |
b Mehmood |
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Bernard Scholtz |
not out |
7 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 46.67 |
|
Jean-Pierre Kotze |
lbw b Odedra |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
|
Jan-Izak de Villiers |
b Hassnain Shah |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Extras |
(lb 2, w 6) |
8 | ||||
|
Total |
(33.1 overs) |
96 |
Fall of Wickets
-
5/1 (Zane Green, 1.4 ov)
-
54/2 (Malan Kruger, 17.3 ov)
-
54/3 (Jan Frylinck, 18.1 ov)
-
54/4 (JJ Smit, 19.2 ov)
-
65/5 (Gerhard Erasmus, 21.5 ov)
-
76/6 (Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, 24.2 ov)
-
77/7 (Ruben Trumpelmann, 25.3 ov)
-
92/8 (Jean-Pierre Kotze, 31.2 ov)
-
95/9 (Jan Balt, 32.4 ov)
-
96/10 (Jan-Izak de Villiers, 33.1 ov)
Oman Bowling
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Econ |
Wides |
NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hassnain Shah |
5.1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 2.94 | 2 | 0 |
|
Aamir Kaleem |
6 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 2.67 | 0 | 0 |
|
Samay Shrivastava |
10 | 0 | 56 | 4 | 5.60 | 3 | 0 |
|
Sufyan Mehmood |
7.3 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2.00 | 1 | 0 |
|
Jay Odedra |
5 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2.40 | 0 | 0 |
Oman Innings (Target: 97 runs from 50 overs)
|
Batsman |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jatinder Singh |
c Green b Trumpelmann |
25 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 69.44 |
|
Kashyap Prajapati |
lbw b Scholtz |
4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
|
Aqib Ilyas (c) |
b Erasmus |
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Pratik Athavale (wk) |
c Loftie-Eaton b Erasmus |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Zeeshan Maqsood |
lbw b Scholtz |
8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
|
Aamir Kaleem |
not out |
21 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 63.64 |
|
Khalid Kail |
c Erasmus b Smit |
2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
|
Vinayak Shukla |
c Trumpelmann b Loftie-Eaton |
17 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 58.62 |
|
Shakeel Ahmed |
c Loftie-Eaton b Erasmus |
6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 60.00 |
|
Hassnain Shah |
not out |
16 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 94.12 |
|
Extras |
(lb 1, w 7) |
8 | ||||
|
Total |
(22.4 overs) |
100 |
Fall of Wickets
-
13/1 (Kashyap Prajapati, 3.1 ov)
-
14/2 (Aqib Ilyas, 4.2 ov)
-
14/3 (Pratik Athavale, 4.4 ov)
-
34/4 (Zeeshan Maqsood, 7.6 ov)
-
46/5 (Jatinder Singh, 10.2 ov)
-
56/6 (Khalid Kail, 12.5 ov)
-
58/7 (Vinayak Shukla, 14.3 ov)
-
64/8 (Shakeel Ahmed, 16.3 ov)
Namibia Bowling
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Econ |
Wides |
NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ruben Trumpelmann |
7 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 4.57 | 2 | 0 |
|
Bernard Scholtz |
6 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 4.33 | 1 | 0 |
|
Gerhard Erasmus |
5.4 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 2.65 | 0 | 0 |
|
JJ Smit |
3 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 6.33 | 2 | 0 |
|
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton |
1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 8.00 | 2 | 0 |
Match Flow
-
Powerplay 1 (Namibia): Overs 0.1–10 (30 runs, 4 wickets)
-
Powerplay 2 (Namibia): Overs 10.1–40 (66 runs, 6 wickets)
-
Drinks: Namibia 54/4 in 19 overs
-
Innings Break: Namibia 96/10 in 33.1 overs
-
Powerplay 1 (Oman): Overs 0.1–10 (42 runs, 1 wicket)
-
Powerplay 2 (Oman): Overs 10.1–40 (58 runs, 7 wickets)
-
Oman 50 runs: 12.5 overs (77 balls)
Key Moments That Defined the Match
- Namibia’s Early Collapse: Losing 4 wickets in the first 10 overs put Namibia on the back foot. Oman’s bowlers, particularly Shrivastava, capitalized on the seaming conditions to dismantle the top order.
- Aamir Kaleem’s All-Round Show: Kaleem’s 2 wickets and 21 runs earned him the Player of the Match award. His calm batting under pressure was crucial in Oman’s chase.
- Namibia’s Fightback with the Ball: Despite the low target, Namibia’s bowlers, led by Erasmus, made Oman work hard, taking the game deep by picking up 8 wickets.
- Hassnain Shah’s Finishing Touch: Shah’s quickfire 16, including a six, sealed the victory for Oman when the pressure was mounting.
Head-to-Head Record
Oman and Namibia have faced each other multiple times in recent years, with Namibia holding a slight edge. According to available data, in their last 13 encounters across all formats, Namibia has won 8 matches, while Oman has secured 5 victories. In the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, their matches have been closely contested, with both teams showcasing moments of brilliance.
Why This Match Matters
This victory was significant for Oman, as it boosted their position in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 standings and showcased their ability to perform under pressure at home. For Namibia, the loss highlighted the need for a more consistent batting performance, but their bowlers showed they could compete with the best Associate nations. Matches like these are crucial for Associate teams, as they provide valuable experience and exposure on the international stage.
Conclusion
The Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on February 16, 2025, was a thrilling low-scoring encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Oman’s disciplined bowling and gritty batting secured them a hard-fought victory, while Namibia’s bowlers ensured the game remained competitive until the final overs. Aamir Kaleem’s all-round heroics and Samay Shrivastava’s bowling were the standout performances, making this a memorable match in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2.
