Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Saturday, 23 October 2021 01:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus and South African import David Wiese helped them create history when they beat fancied Ireland by eight wickets in their last qualifying game at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to qualify for the Super 12s of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
It was a crunch game for both sides with the winner occupying the last remaining spot in the Super 12s, as Namibia produced a magnificent allround performance to seal a memorable win.
The victory saw, Namibian players rushing to the field and celebrating a moment they have been waiting for long in ecstatically.
Ireland thus becomes the only full member to miss out on a place in the main draw, losing their last two games, against Sri Lanka and Namibia. Their only win of the tournament was against the Netherlands, a game in which Curtis Campher became the first man history in to pick up four wickets in four balls in a World Cup. After their bowlers had restricted Ireland to 125 for 8, the Namibian batters seized control early to finish things off in style.
Erasmus and Wiese shared an unbeaten 53 runs in just 31 balls to sail over the paltry target. Wiese hit a quick-fire 28 off 14, including two massive sixes, while Erasmus anchored the innings with a classy 53 off 49 balls, including a six and three boundaries. Campher picked up both wickets that fell in the Namibian innings, but he could not prevent the African side stealing the win.
Earlier, after electing to bat first, Ireland were restricted to 125 despite a decent start to their innings. Their openers Paul Starling (38) and Kevin O’Brian (25) had laid a solid foundation reaching 62 runs for the first wicket before Bernard Schoitz removed Sterling to end a threatening opening stand.He was soon followed by O’Brian giving a catch to deep square leg. Skipper Andy Balbirnie (21) and Gareth Delany shared 27 for the third wicket, trying to rebuild the innings at the fall of both their openers, but the Namibian seamers led by Jane Frylinck and David Wiese put the Irish batters under pressure with some tight bowling. Frylinck was the pick of the bowlers claiming 3 for 21 while former South African allrounder finished his four overs for 2 for 22 as none of the batters apart from the top three reaching two figures.
Namibia will compete in group 2 along with Pakistan, Indian, New Zealand, Scotland and Afghanistan. (CF)
