Van der Westhuizen cracks ton in Namibia's 2nd victory

Dubai Twenty-three-year-old Namibian allrounder Louis van der Westhuizen hogged the limelight by cracking a breezy unbeaten century to steer Namibia to their second successive victory in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 qualifiers. Van der Westhuizen, who was the star of Namibia's stunning victory over Ireland on the first day of the tournament in Dubai on Tuesday, carried his form to the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium. His unbeaten 106 came off just 54 balls studded with eight boundaries and eight sixers and helped Namibia post 192 for 3 in 20 overs. Namibia recorded a 49-runs victory over Scotland. Van der Westhuizen also bagged two wickets for 16 runs. In Dubai, at the ICC Global Cricket Academy ground, a 17-year-old Nitish Kumar emerged as the star performer cracking a brilliant half century for Canada to ensure an exciting six runs victory over Papua New Guinea. Kumar, who is nicknamed Tendulkar due to his huge potential as a batsman, top scored with 57 runs off 44 balls with seven boundaries and a six. Ireland recover Ireland recovered from their shock defeat to Namibia on Tuesday to score an emphatic ten-wicket victory over Kenya at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Through a spirited bowling attack led by Boyd Rankin, who picked three wickets for 20 runs, Ireland bowled out Kenya for 71 runs. Ireland skipper William Porterfield and Paul Stirling won the match in just 7.2 overs. Porterfield remained unconquered with 57 runs off just 27 balls with eight boundaries and two sixers. Italy produced yet another sterling performance following their nine-wicket win over Oman on Tuesday to register an exciting eight run win over United States of America at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium. Once again the star of their victory was Carl Sandri. If on Tuesday he destroyed Oman with a spell of four wickets for nine runs, yesterday he sparkled with the bat to hit an unbeaten 49 to help Italy post 137 for 6. He also took two wickets to restrict USA to 129 for 8. Oman crashed to their second successive defeat losing to Uganda by three wickets while Nepal registered yet another impressive nine-wicket win over Denmark in Dubai. Leg break bowler Shakti Prasad Gauchan, who produced a deadly spell of four wickets for 20 runs, including a hat-trick, emerged as the hero. Denmark had no clue to the bowling of Gauchan and off break bowler Pirthu Baskota who took two wickets and crashed out for 82 runs.