Namibia have improved as a limited-overs squad in the past few years. Their bowling lineup now boasts of wicket-takers capable of catching world-class batters off-guard. While they could not pull off an upset in last year's T20 World Cup in UAE, they managed to trouble a few big names. Nearly a year later, their left-arm spinner has entered history books with an exceptional bowling display against USA which is a part of ICC Cricket World Cup League T20 2019-23.
Defending a small total of 176, Scholtz not only got big breakthroughs but barely conceded any runs in 8.3 overs he bowled. He kept USA batters under pressure and helped his side bundle them out for 97 inside 32 overs.
Scholtz now holds the record for most economical spell in ODIs by an associate nation bowler. Overall, it is the seventh most economical spell in the history of ODI cricket. Scholtz conceded runs at 0.56 runs per over.
The record for most economical spell was recently broken by Australian pacer Sean Abbott who conceded just one run in four overs he bowled against New Zealand. Also, it is the second-best economy rate for a spinner after former Indian skipper Bishan Singh bedi who conceded just six runs from his 12 overs against East Africa in 1975.
The left-arm spinner was introduced in the 11th over by skipper JJ Smit. In the second over he got his first wicket and did not concede a single run. He followed it up with another wicket-maiden. This time he got the wicket of Chandigarh-born Jaskaran Malhotra. In his first spell, he bowled two more maidens. After six overs, he had conceded just three runs.
Scholtz was brought back into the attack shortly but did not get another wicket in his second spell. Later, he was asked to end USA's innings and he got the wicket of tailender Jessy Singh to help Namibia beat USA by a big margin of 79 runs.
Apart from Scholtz, Jan Frylinck took three wickets as well at Amini Park, Port Moresby. Jan Nicol Loftie Eaton took two wickets whereas Ruben Trumelmann took one wicket.
Earlier, he shared a crucial 29-run partnership for the third wicket with Trumpelmann. He remained unbeaten for 17 off 34 deliveries to help Namibia post 176 from 144/8.
