WINDHOEK, 24 November 2004 — Vikram Solanki and Ian Bell shared a century stand to guide England to a seven-wicket victory in a one-day warm-up match against Namibia yesterday.
Namibia were put in to bat and totaled 219 for eight, to which England replied with 220 for three to win with 6.1 overs to spare.
Openers Solanki and Bell put on 110 for the first wicket before Bell, on 51, top-edged an attempted sweep off the bowling of Deon Kotze to Morne Karg at backward point in the 23rd over.
Five overs later off-spinner Sarel Burger had Solanki stumped by wicketkeeper Melt van Schoor for 82, which he made off 76 balls with nine fours and three sixes.
Geraint Jones scored 27 not out and Kevin Pietersen made an unbeaten 31 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 63 to steer England to victory. Gerrie Snyman top scored for Namibia with an aggressive 75 struck off 88 deliveries in which he hit five fours and four sixes.
One of Snyman’s sixes, hit off the bowling of Bell, cleared the sightscreen and smashed a window in a car belonging to the chairman of the Namibian Cricket Board, Francois Erasmus. Snyman and Louis Burger, who scored 33, shared 70 runs for the sixth wicket, the biggest stand of the innings.
Snyman drove straight and with power until Giles had him caught at long-on by Paul Collingwood in the 44th over.
Fast bowler James Anderson took three for 36 from eight overs.
