England made to toil

Namibia hero: Jan-Berry Burger
Score: England 272 all out (50 overs)
Namibia 217-9 (50 overs)
England win by 55 runs

England's World Cup cricketers were given a huge fright here today before finally subduing the amateurs of Namibia.

Quoted at 300 to one ON to beat the tournament's rank outsiders before start of play, they faced the real possibility of utter humiliation while student JB Burger was roaring towards a century.

England had already been shaken by the absence of captain Nasser Hussain, who pulled out of today's game because of a sore neck and could yet miss Saturday's vital encounter with Pakistan in Cape Town.

But they looked in even more pain than their skipper as 21-year-old Burger threatened to make a mockery of a victory target of 273.

The chunky opener raced to 85 from as many balls before Craig White dismissed him to the huge relief of every England player.

That wicket took the sting out of Namibia's charge with the brave underdogs from Africa subsiding to 217 for nine and a 55-run defeat. The official tournament guide says of the World Cup first-timers "it is highly unlikely they will threaten any of the major sides."

Wrong. England were squirming at St George's Park today as Burger and Danie Keulder put together a third wicket stand of 97 with every bowler suffering.

Acting captain Alec Stewart had to make do without Ian Blackwell's left-arm spin after the all-rounder damaged his back and was sent for an X-ray.

But neither that - nor the tricky catch which substitute Matthew Hoggard 'tipped over the bar' at square leg when Burger, on 17, pulled Andrew Caddick - excused England.

Namibia's star turn played a string of glorious strokes, none better than the blistering on-drive against White which brought him his only six.

It was hard to see England breaking through. But, with the total 139 for two, White gambled on sending down a slower delivery which fooled Burger into spooning a shot into the covers.

Paul Collingwood dived full length to grab the ball inches off the ground - and England's relief was obvious. Even then, there were some anxious moments.

For, with rain threatening, Namibia moved ahead on runrate until Keulder hesitated over a second and was left stranded on 46 by Marcus Trescothick's flat throw from the deep.

White immediately followed up by knocking back Gerry Snyman's off stump and a crisis had been averted.

Even so, today's display did nothing to inspire confidence in England's ability to qualify through beating two out of Pakistan, India and Australia.

They stuttered with the bat, despite half centuries from Stewart and Trecothick.

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