Namibia sets 1st Qualifying Final date with Afghanistan

Openers Raymond van Schoor and Gerrie Snyman put on 144 runs for a first wicket, highest of the tournament, which propelled Namibia to 194-2. In turn, Italy finished at 167 for eight.

The match between Afghanistan and Namibia will start at 1400 on Thursday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the winner will qualify for the tournament proper to be staged Sri Lanka from 18 September to 7 October.

The losing side of the 1st Qualifying Final will take on the Preliminary Final winner (to be played in a cross-over format between the sides that finish second and third in the two groups) in the morning match of 24 March at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

While the winner of the morning match will become the second side to qualify for the Sri Lanka tournament, the evening match on the same day will not only decide the tournament winner but will also confirm Group A and Group B line-ups for the Sri Lanka tournament. The winning side will join Australia and the West Indies in Group B while the losing team will complete Group A which also includes defending champion England and 2007 winner India.

Van Schoor and Snyman were in devastating forms as they cut the Italian bowling to size. Between them, they hit 14 fours and five sixes as Snyman alone slapped five fours and as many sixes in a swashbuckling 49-ball 78.

Van Schoor's 57-ball 73 not out was punctuated was nine sizzling boundaries. Craig Williams, later in the order, also effectively used the long handle while smashing two fours and two sixes in a 12-ball 25.

Italy, in its target chase, finished at 167 for eight with Gareth Berg scoring 47, Alessandro Bonora contributing 40 and Michael Di Venuto hitting 35.

For Namibia, Sarel Burger and Louis Van Der Westhuizen equally shared four wickets between them conceding 29 runs piece.