Scotland made a strong start to their T20 series with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Namibia in Windhoek.
After losing the toss, Namibia were asked to bat first but struggled early in their innings. They quickly lost wickets and found themselves in trouble at 94-6. Scotland bowlers kept things tight, with Mark Watt and Jasper Davidson both taking two wickets each while controlling the run rate.
Despite the early collapse, Namibia managed to recover and post a competitive total of 159-7. Captain Gerhard Erasmus led the fightback with a solid 54 runs, while Jan Balt added a quick unbeaten 19 towards the end to boost the total.
Scotland also had a moment to celebrate as debutant Zainullah Ihsan picked up his first international wicket by dismissing Louren Steenkamp for 27.
Chasing 160, Scotland got off to a fast start. Openers George Munsey and Finlay McCreath attacked early and put pressure on the Namibia bowlers during the powerplay.
Munsey scored 44 runs, setting the tone for the chase before getting out. McCreath added 16, helping Scotland stay ahead of the required rate.
After the early momentum, Brandon McMullen continued the good work with a calm unbeaten 44. He guided the innings smartly and ensured there were no major problems in the chase.
Captain Richie Berrington also played an important role, scoring 34 runs in his 350th appearance for Scotland. He was eventually dismissed after a brilliant catch on the boundary by Ruben Trumpelmann.
In the end, Scotland reached the target with ease, finishing at 160-3 with seven balls remaining. Wicketkeeper Matthew Cross hit the winning runs to seal the victory.
With this win, Scotland take a 1-0 lead in the series. The remaining two matches will be played later this week as they look to continue their strong form.
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