Bernard Scholtz Makes History: First Namibian to Claim 100 ODI Wickets
Left-arm spinner reaches milestone during match against Scotland, cementing his legacy in Namibian cricket
Key Facts
- Player: Bernard Scholtz
- Achievement: First Namibian to take 100 ODI wickets
- Milestone Match: Namibia vs Scotland
- Role: Left-arm orthodox spinner
- Date of Achievement: September 04, 2025
In a historic moment for Namibian cricket, Bernard Scholtz has become the first player from the African nation to claim 100 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs). The left-arm spinner reached this significant milestone during Namibia’s match against Scotland on September 04, 2025, where his three-wicket haul propelled him into the record books.
Historic Match Details
Date: September 04, 2025
Venue: Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City
Teams: Namibia vs Scotland
Scholtz’s Performance
Player Profile
Personal Information
Full Name: Bernard Martinus Scholtz
Born: October 03, 1990, Keetmanshoop, Namibia
Age: 34 years 343 days
Batting Style: Right hand Bat
Bowling Style: Slow Left arm Orthodox
Playing Role: Bowler
Relations
Brother: NRP Scholtz
Teams
Namibia
Namibia Under-19s
Surrey Jaguars
Career Statistics
Bowling Statistics
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 64 | 64 | 3371 | 1889 | 100 | 5/22 | 5/22 | 18.89 | 3.36 | 33.7 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| T20Is | 68 | 66 | 1354 | 1398 | 71 | 4/12 | 4/12 | 19.69 | 6.19 | 19.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 102 | 143 | 13396 | 7796 | 235 | 8/33 | 13/182 | 33.17 | 3.49 | 57.0 | 9 | 15 | 2 |
| List A | 180 | 173 | 8061 | 5258 | 213 | 5/22 | 5/22 | 24.68 | 3.91 | 37.8 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| T20s | 150 | 141 | 2837 | 2987 | 154 | 4/11 | 4/11 | 19.39 | 6.31 | 18.4 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding Statistics
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 64 | 42 | 17 | 313 | 31* | 12.52 | 482 | 64.93 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| T20Is | 68 | 21 | 15 | 73 | 9 | 12.16 | 84 | 86.90 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| FC | 102 | 170 | 54 | 1363 | 63 | 11.75 | 3712 | 36.71 | 0 | 3 | 175 | 4 | 23 | 0 |
| List A | 180 | 109 | 39 | 693 | 31* | 9.90 | 1171 | 59.18 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 10 | 18 | 0 |
| T20s | 150 | 50 | 31 | 186 | 25* | 9.78 | 212 | 87.73 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 26 | 0 |
The Milestone Achievement
Scholtz, known for his accurate left-arm spin and economical bowling, entered the match needing three wickets to reach the century mark. Displaying his characteristic control and variation, he achieved exactly what was required, finishing with figures of 3/25 from 5 overs with an economy rate of 5.00.
Milestone Performance
Opponent: Scotland
Date: September 04, 2025
Venue: Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City
Wickets Taken: 3
Runs Conceded: 25
Overs: 5
Economy Rate: 5.00
Career ODI Wickets: 100+
A Journey of Consistency
Bernard Scholtz’s journey to 100 wickets represents a story of perseverance and consistent performance. Making his ODI debut in 2019, Scholtz quickly established himself as a vital component of Namibia’s bowling attack, particularly in the middle overs where his ability to contain runs and take crucial wickets proved invaluable.
His achievement is even more remarkable considering Namibia’s relatively recent ascent to ODI status, which they earned by winning the 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division Two. This limited exposure to top-level cricket makes Scholtz’s milestone particularly significant.
Impact on Namibian Cricket
Scholtz’s record-breaking achievement represents a significant moment for cricket in Namibia, a nation that has steadily been making progress in the international arena. His success serves as inspiration for aspiring cricketers in the country and demonstrates that players from associate nations can achieve remarkable milestones on the global stage.
Namibia’s cricket team has shown considerable improvement in recent years, with notable performances in various ICC events. Players like Scholtz have been at the forefront of this development, providing experience and skill to a squad that continues to challenge more established cricketing nations.
What’s Next for Scholtz and Namibia
With this milestone achieved, Bernard Scholtz will now focus on contributing to Namibia’s ongoing campaign in the ICC World Cup League 2, a crucial pathway to qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup. His experience and wicket-taking ability will be vital assets as Namibia seeks to secure a place in the showpiece event.
As the first Namibian to reach 100 ODI wickets, Scholtz has cemented his place in his country’s cricket history. His achievement sets a benchmark for future generations and highlights the growing competitiveness of associate nations in international cricket.