Global Game: Real Madrid TV interview President of Madrid Cricket Club

He went to talk about how the game of cricket is played and added they are training hard so that they can start playing after the COVID restrictions are lifted. He also said that they are in talks with the international body to start playing in Spain.

Namibia defeat South Africa Emerging in dual series

Namibia’s men continued to impress in their home season, claiming a 2-1 series victory in Windhoek against South Africa Emerging in the 50-over format last week. The win goes with the 2-1 result in the preceding T20 matches.

The hosts started with a comfortable chase in the first match last Tuesday, after a disciplined bowling effort dismissed the South Africans for 244 on the last ball of their innings. In reply captain Gerhard Erasmus carried the chase with 108 (95), and was visibly disappointed to be dismissed an over away from the eventual victory in the 45th over.

The Thursday match saw the visitors bounce back in a bowling-heavy display, with Namibia collapsing to a 57-run loss in what seemed to be an easily-achievable chase. Electing to bowl first after winning the toss, Namibia pegged back regular wickets in a team effort with the ball as they ended the South African innings at 196 in the 46th over. A brisk 54-run stand from openers Stephen Baard and Zane Green seemed to put Namibia on course for another comfortable chase, but lost 7/26 in less than 9 overs and slumped to 80/7. They were eventually bowled out for for 139 in the 31st over.

The decider, held on Saturday with strong support from the home crowd, was a high-scoring thriller. Namibia opted to bat first, and got off to another steady start through a 63-run partnership from Baard and Green. Once they were dismissed, however, South Africa Emerging tightened the screws with a disciplined passage of play from the bowlers; right and left arm finger spinners Tshepo Ntuli and Bryce Parsons were especially hard to get away, while Stefan Tait delivered another probing spell. Craig Williams stuck on and slammed 139* from 119. Assisted by JJ Smit’s 61 (48), the late burst carried the hosts to 338/4. A strong opening partnership followed by several wickets put the visitors in trouble at 98/4 in the 25th over, but the steadying influence of Matthew Breetzke’s 114 (127) allied with big-hitting cameos from Delano Potgieter (52 off 54), Jason Smith (63 off 41) and Bryce Parsons (33 of 22) kept them in the chase until the very end. Ruben Trumpelmann kept his nerve in the last over though, delivering a wicket-maiden to keep the South Africans to 319/9.

Central Europe Cup set for late May

Elsewhere in the Associate world, and the Central Europe Cup has been announced for later in the month. Set to feature the men’s teams of Austria, Luxembourg, Malta and hosts Czech Republic, the quickfire double round robin tournament is planned for three action-packed days between May 21-23.

The event comes as European Associates are looking for match practice to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifie

rs later in the summer; several regional series have already been postponed due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the teams will be especially keen to take the field. Hosted in Prague, this year’s edition is the seventh, and it marks the first time that every match will hold full T20I status after 2019 included two non-member teams. It is also set to be the first T20Is on Czech soil, after the locals have worked hard to upgrade the Banks Field and Scott Page Field to ICC standards.

Fifteen Malaysian women turn pro with new contracts

In some off-field news, Malaysia has announced year-long contracts for 15 of its top women’s players. Joining a growing list of emerging nations working to professionalise their women’s setup, Malaysia will offer remuneration based on the contract grade as well as signing players up to medical insurance, welfare support, and education funds. The move comes as Malaysia’s women are hard at work preparing for a possible chance at qualification to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Captain Winifred Anne Duraisingam explained the motivating power of the decision to the women’s team as they look to progress through the ICC’s pathway events: ‘I am grateful to receive this contract. In return, it makes me want to uphold professionalism at all times and give my all to the game. Here on, there will be no time to relax. We, as a team need to be the best we can be.’

Global Game is a collaboration between the ICC andEmerging Cricket.