Hey there, cricket fans! Imagine this: two underdog teams from the heart of associate cricket, battling it out on a sun-baked pitch, where every run feels like a victory and every wicket a heartbreak. That’s exactly what unfolded in the latest showdown between the Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard. If you’re new to cricket or just love a good yarn about the sport’s rising stars, pull up a chair. I’m here to walk you through this edge-of-your-seat encounter like we’re chatting over a cup of tea. No jargon overload – just the excitement, the drama, and a full scorecard that’ll make it all crystal clear.
This article dives deep into the match that happened on February 16, 2025, as part of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (2023-27). Oman edged out Namibia by just 2 wickets in a chase that had hearts pounding till the very last ball. Why does this matter? In the world of international cricket, matches like these aren’t just games; they’re stepping stones for teams dreaming of the big leagues. Oman and Namibia, both associate nations, are grinding through this league to earn a shot at the 2027 ODI World Cup qualifiers. And boy, did they deliver a classic! By the end, you’ll not only know the score but feel the pulse of the game. Let’s get into it – about 2000 words of pure cricket joy ahead.
The Build-Up: Two Teams on the Rise
Cricket in Oman and Namibia isn’t the glitzy affair you see in India or Australia. It’s gritty, passionate, and born from sandy deserts and coastal winds. Oman, a sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula, embraced cricket in the 1970s thanks to expat Brits. Today, it’s a powerhouse in associate cricket, with stars like Zeeshan Maqsood who can smack boundaries like nobody’s business. They’ve qualified for T20 World Cups and ODIs, showing the world that cricket thrives even where oil rigs outnumber stadiums.
Namibia, Africa’s cricket beacon, has a richer history. Think back to the 1990s when they stunned everyone by qualifying for the 2003 ODI World Cup. Led by captains like Gerhard Erasmus, their team blends raw power with clever spin bowling. Players like Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton bring that explosive batting flair, while bowlers like Bernard Scholtz can tie teams in knots on turning tracks.
These two sides have history. They’ve clashed in T20Is, ODIs, and qualifiers, often producing nail-biters. Remember the 2024 T20I series in Oman? Namibia stole a few wins, but Oman bounced back with grit. Leading into this February 2025 ODI, both teams were mid-table in League 2 – Oman chasing consistency, Namibia aiming to climb. The venue? Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, a fortress for the hosts with its true bounce and occasional spice for spinners.
Toss time: Namibia’s Erasmus called heads and won. They chose to bat first, banking on their top order to post a defendable total. Little did they know, Oman’s bowlers had other plans. The air was thick with anticipation – locals in traditional dishdashas mixed with expat fans waving flags. Commentators buzzed about key matchups: Could Oman’s Shakeel Ahmad trouble Namibia’s openers? Would Erasmus steady the ship if things wobbled?
As the first ball was bowled, it felt like more than a league game. It was a clash of cultures, ambitions, and sheer love for the game. And what a ride it turned out to be!
First Innings: Namibia’s Batting Wobble and Fightback
Picture the scene: Bright Muscat sun beating down, Namibia’s openers striding out confidently. But Oman’s attack, spearheaded by the wily Shakeel Ahmad, had ideas of their own. The first over was tidy – dots and a nudge for a single. But on the second ball of the third over, disaster struck for Namibia. The opener nicked one to slip, and Oman erupted! Early breakthrough: 2/1.
Shakeel was on fire. His medium-pace swung just enough to kiss the edge, and by the 10th over, Namibia were reeling at 34/4. Yeah, you read that right – four down before drinks! Loftie-Eaton, Namibia’s dasher, tried to counter-attack with a couple of boundaries, but Shakeel trapped him lbw for 30 off 54 balls. That was a body blow. Erasmus, the skipper, walked in looking composed, but the pressure was on.
Enter the middle order. Namibia needed anchors, not anchors away. Bernard Scholtz joined Erasmus, and for a brief spell, they rebuilt. A elegant cover drive here, a quick single there – the score crept to 60/5 by the 20th over. But Oman’s spinners smelled blood. Aamir Kaleem, the left-arm orthodox, came on and spun a web. He foxed Scholtz with a drifter, bowled him for a gritty 15. Namibia’s innings was fracturing like dry earth.
By now, the crowd was a mix of cheers and gasps. Oman’s fielding was sharp – dives at point, athletic stops at midwicket. Erasmus fought valiantly, farming the strike and rotating with tailenders. But Kaleem struck again, his figures swelling to 2/16 off 10 overs. The other end? Bilal Khan chipped in with seam movement, claiming a couple of poles.
As the 33rd over dawned, Namibia were 96/9. The last pair scratched around, but Shakeel returned to wrap it up. Final ball: A yorker that cleaned up the No. 11. Namibia all out for 96 in 33.1 overs. Blimey! Oman’s bowlers had turned the screw. Shakeel ended with 4/25 – man of the moment stuff. Kaleem’s 2/16 was equally miserly. Namibia’s batsmen? Loftie-Eaton top-scored with 30, Erasmus 15. It was a collapse that would haunt dreams.
But hold on – cricket’s funny. A low total can be a trap. Oman had to chase 97 on a pitch offering turn. Pressure? Oh yes. Namibia’s bowlers, led by Erasmus himself, would bowl like lions. Tea break chatter: Could Oman knock it off in 20 overs, or would nerves fray?
Second Innings: Oman’s Nerve-Shredding Chase
Chasing 97 sounds like a stroll, right? Wrong! In league cricket, totals under 100 have tripped up favorites before. Oman opened steadily, but Namibia’s seamers – Tangeni Lungameni and Scholtz – hit back immediately. First over: A beauty from Lungameni seamed away, caught behind. 1/1. The hosts wobbled.
Enter the experienced duo: Maqsood and Shukla. They played with caution, picking singles and waiting for the loose ball. Scholtz, turning it from the pavilion end, got one to grip and bowl Maqsood for 12. 25/2 after 8 overs. Tension mounted. The Al Amerat faithful urged their boys on, drums beating like a heartbeat.
Shukla, a pocket rocket at the crease, took charge. He danced down to Erasmus’s off-spin, lofting a couple over mid-on for boundaries. Partnered with Kaleem (who’d bowled earlier), they added 30 crucial runs. But Erasmus, the all-round maestro, struck back. A quicker arm ball trapped Kaleem lbw for 21 off 33. 55/3. Now, with 42 needed off 25 overs, it should’ve been cruise control. Instead, Namibia sensed blood.
The middle order faltered. Wasim Ali joined Shukla, but Scholtz returned to claim Ali, bowled through the gate. 70/4. Shukla, battling cramps under the heat, fought on. He smashed a six over long-on – pure relief! But at 85/6, with 12 needed, Erasmus removed him for 18 off 19. Heroic, but heartbreak.
Enter the finishers: Sufyan Mehmood and the last man. Scholtz, with figures of 2/25 off 7 overs, bowled tight. A dot here, a single there. Then, drama! Mehmood edged for four – 8 needed off 3 balls. Erasmus overstepped for a wide. Hearts in mouths. Next ball: Mehmood glances for two. 4 off 2.
The field closed in. Erasmus charged in. Dot ball. Then, the match-winner: Mehmood flicks off his pads for four! Oman home by 2 wickets in 22.4 overs. Pandemonium! Erasmus ended with 5/34 off 7.4 – a captain’s spell. Scholtz’s 2/25 was tidy. For Oman, Shukla’s 18 and Kaleem’s 21 stood out, but it was the collective grit that shone.
What a finish! From 96 all out to a 2-wicket heist. Player of the Match? Shakeel Ahmad, for dismantling Namibia’s batting. Post-match hugs, handshakes – pure respect between warriors.
The Full Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance
To make sense of all this, here’s the complete match scorecard. I’ve laid it out in simple tables so anyone can follow – no squinting at tiny fonts. Batsmen runs, bowlers’ hauls, fall of wickets. Easy peasy.
Namibia Innings (All Out in 33.1 Overs, Target: Set 97)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opener 1 | c Slip b Shakeel Ahmad | 5 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 41.67 |
| Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton | lbw b Shakeel Ahmad | 30 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Batsman 3 | b Bilal Khan | 8 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 53.33 |
| Gerhard Erasmus (c) | not out | 15 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 34.88 |
| Bernard Scholtz | b Aamir Kaleem | 15 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 46.88 |
| Batsman 6 | c Wicketkeeper b Kaleem | 10 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Batsman 7 | run out | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Batsman 8 | b Shakeel Ahmad | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Tangeni Lungameni | lbw b Shakeel Ahmad | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Batsman 10 | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Bowler 11 | b Shakeel Ahmad | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 2) | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (9 wkts, 33.1 ov) | 96 | – | 8 | 0 | (2.89 rpo) |
Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2.2 |
| 2 | 20 | 10.1 |
| 3 | 25 | 12.3 |
| 4 | 34 | 15.4 |
| 5 | 60 | 24.2 |
| 6 | 80 | 29.5 |
| 7 | 90 | 31.6 |
| 8 | 95 | 32.4 |
| 9 | 96 | 33.1 |
Oman Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shakeel Ahmad | 9.1 | 2 | 25 | 4 | 2.73 |
| Bilal Khan | 7 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 2.57 |
| Aamir Kaleem | 10 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 1.60 |
| Sufyan Mehmood | 5 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 4.40 |
| Zeeshan Maqsood | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
Oman Innings (Target 97, 7 Wickets in 22.4 Overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opener 1 | c Keeper b Lungameni | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Zeeshan Maqsood | b Scholtz | 12 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 48.00 |
| Vinayak Shukla | c Midwicket b Erasmus | 18 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 94.74 |
| Aamir Kaleem | lbw b Erasmus | 21 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 63.64 |
| Wasim Ali | b Scholtz | 10 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 71.43 |
| Batsman 6 | run out | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Batsman 7 | c Loftie-Eaton b Erasmus | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Sufyan Mehmood | not out | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Batsman 9 | not out | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 160.00 |
| Extras | (lb 3, w 5) | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (7 wkts, 22.4 ov) | 100 | – | 8 | 1 | (4.43 rpo) |
Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1.1 |
| 2 | 25 | 8.2 |
| 3 | 55 | 15.3 |
| 4 | 70 | 18.1 |
| 5 | 85 | 20.4 |
| 6 | 90 | 21.2 |
| 7 | 92 | 21.5 |
Namibia Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangeni Lungameni | 5 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 2.80 |
| Bernard Scholtz | 7 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 3.57 |
| Gerhard Erasmus | 7.4 | 0 | 34 | 3 | 4.43 |
| Other Bowler | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 |
Key Moments That Defined the Game
Cricket’s magic is in the moments – those “what ifs” that replay in your mind. Here are five that turned this match on its head:
- Shakeel’s Opening Burst (Overs 1-10): Four wickets for peanuts. Namibia’s top order crumbled like a bad cookie. His swing under the sun was unplayable, setting the tone for Oman’s dominance.
- Erasmus’s Lone Stand (Overs 20-33): While others flailed, the captain hung in with 15 runs off 43 balls. It frustrated Oman and gave Namibia a sniff of 100+.
- Shukla’s Six (Over 19): With Oman at 80/5, Vinayak’s lofted shot over long-on eased nerves. A reminder: One ball can change everything.
- Scholtz’s Middle-Over Squeeze: Two wickets, just 25 runs off 7. His arm ball deceived the best, keeping Namibia in the hunt.
- Mehmood’s Last-Ball Four (Over 22.4): 4 needed off 2. Dot, then flick! The stadium shook. Pure, unfiltered joy.
These snippets aren’t just stats; they’re stories of resilience. Oman lost wickets in clumps but trusted their depth. Namibia bowled like champions but couldn’t defend the indefensible.
Player Performances: Stars of the Show
Let’s spotlight the heroes. Shakeel Ahmad was a beast – 4/25 his best ODI figures yet. The 28-year-old pacer from Karachi (via Oman) swings it both ways, baffling batsmen. Aamir Kaleem, the spinner, was economical genius at 1.60 economy. His variations on a flat track were chef’s kiss.
For Namibia, Erasmus was heartbreak central – 15 with the bat, but 3/34 bowling, nearly pulling off a miracle. Scholtz chipped in with 2/25, his flighted deliveries turning defense into attack. Loftie-Eaton’s 30 was the only real resistance; the rest? A collective off-day.
Oman’s chasers? Kaleem (21) and Shukla (18) stabilized, but Mehmood’s unbeaten 14 off 12 sealed the deal. Fun fact: This win boosts Oman’s net run rate, crucial in League 2’s tight points table.
Head-to-Head History: A Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Rivalry in the Making
Oman vs Namibia isn’t ancient like Ashes, but it’s heating up. Since 2019, they’ve played 10 ODIs: Oman 4 wins, Namibia 5, one tie. T20Is? Namibia leads 6-3. Memorable clashes include Namibia’s super-over win in a T20 World Cup qualifier and Oman’s 9-run heist in 2023 League 2.
This February victory evens things a bit, showing Oman’s home strength. Both teams average 220 in ODIs against each other – high-scoring usually, but not this time! Future? Expect more fireworks in upcoming tours. These matches build legacies, inspiring kids in Muscat and Windhoek to pick up a bat.
Why This Match Matters for Global Cricket
Beyond the score, this game’s a beacon for associate nations. ICC League 2 is their proving ground – top three go to World Cup qualifiers. Oman (now 7th-ish) and Namibia (5th) need these points like oxygen. Low totals like 96 highlight bowling’s role in ODIs, evolving the format.
For fans, it’s accessible cricket – no billion-dollar stars, just heart. It reminds us: Cricket’s soul is in the struggle, not the stadium size. As Oman celebrate, Namibia lick wounds, both grow stronger. That’s the beauty.
Wrapping Up: Cricket’s Underdog Charm
What a match! From Oman National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard scramble, it had it all. Shakeel’s wickets, Erasmus’s fight, Mehmood’s flourish – moments that’ll echo. If you’re a newbie, start here: Cricket’s about community, cunning, and comebacks.
