Namibia WON
T20
Namibia beat IRE by 8 wickets
Man of the Match - David Wiese
IRE
125-8
20.0/20 Ovrs
 
126-2
18.3/20 Ovrs
Namibia
ICC World Twenty20, 2021 |Match 11 |10/22/2021
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Commentary
  • Right then. That is all that we have from this game. Namibia make their way to the Super 12s and Ireland will catch a flight back home as they miss out this time around. We have one final game before the Super 12s get underway and the final game of Group A between Sri Lanka and Netherlands will get underway at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). Switch tabs and catch all the action from that game. Cheers! 
  • The captain of Namibia, Gerhard Erasmus, says that they are a small cricketing nation and this win means a lot to them. Mentions that they are very proud of themselves tonight. Adds that Wiese is the senior player of the team and has stepped up in crucial situations. Tells that the win has not sunk in yet but maybe it will soon.
  • Andy Balbirnie, the skipper of Ireland, says the side is surely gutted but says they will come back stronger in future campaigns. Also praises the effort of Namibia and says they were the better side.
  • DAVID WIESE IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH! Wiese says it is very overwhelming. Adds the captain deserves to pick up this trophy and it was a proper captain's innings. Mentions the team has worked really hard and this was a strong performance from them. 
  • Earlier in the day, after a really fruitful Powerplay from the Irish openers, they lost the plot and keep losing wickets regularly and were not able to capitalize on the good start to end on just 126. In the end, the total was just not enough for the Irish bowlers to defend and they have crashed out of the tournament. 
  • Not the best bowling display by Ireland. They did well in the first 10 overs as they kept the run flow in check but failed to keep picking wickets. With the total not being a massive one, regular wickets was what Ireland needed but they never got them. They only managed 2 wickets and had they taken more scalps throughout the innings, they could have made life difficult for Namibia. Curtis Campher was the pick of the lot as he took 2 wickets and Josh Little bowled well too, but, it was not meant to be. 
  • The start by Namibia was slow like a sloth as there was no quickness in their innings early on. They struggled to get going and only managed to score 27 runs, losing one wicket, in the Powerplay. They needed to get through the middle overs well and the duo of Gerhard Erasmus and Zane Green did that with their 48-run stand, which was slow again, but they did what was needed from them. The running between these two was the highlight as they did well to run hard and grab a couple of runs whenever possible. Green fell and the hero of the last game, David Wiese walked out. The 15th over changed the momentum for Namibia as they gathered 16 off that over. After that, the duo of Erasmus and Wiese played smartly and kept the run rate in check, with the skipper getting his fifty, and they took their team over the line, with 9 balls to spare. 
  • A nation rejoices now! Namibia have done it! What a big moment this is for Namibian cricket as they have booked their place in the Super 12s. They have fought hard and have deservedly made their way to the next stage of this tournament. All the players will be very glad that their tournament can continue and it does not end prematurely. Ireland, on the other hand, will be mighty disappointed that they have failed to cross this hurdle and it will take them a while to get over this. 
  • 18.3
    4
    Craig Young to David Wiese, FOUR! Here comes the winning runs. David Wiese racks up the winning runs. A full-length ball, outside off. Wiese puts all his power on this shot. He slashes it over cover. The ball clears the man in the deep and goes into the boundary on a bounce. Emotional scenes for Namibia cricket. The skipper is on his knees. The dugout can't believe it. History has been made by Namibia here. THEY WIN THE GAME BY 8 WICKETS.
  • 18.2
    1
    Craig Young to Gerhard Erasmus, Slower, full-length ball, on off. Eramus pushes it to mid off for a single.
  • 18.1
    4
    Craig Young to Gerhard Erasmus, FOUR! Gerhard Erasmus is in a hurry to end things here. Fuller in length, outside off. Erasmus leans in and lifts it over covers for a boundary. He also brings up his half-century in style. A captain's knock by Erasmus.
  • END OF OVER 18 | 12 Runs & 0 Wkt | Namibia 117/2
  • Craig Young (3-0-24-0) comes back on. 
  • 17.6
    1
    Simi Singh to Gerhard Erasmus, Tossed up, on middle. Erasmus makes room and lifts it over covers for a single. Ireland are chasing the game now, this over has changed the context of the game. 9 runs needed off 12.
  • 17.5
    1
    Simi Singh to David Wiese, A single now! Short and outside off. Wiese cuts it to backward point for a run.
  • 17.4
    0
    Simi Singh to David Wiese, Flighted, full and on leg. Wiese pushes it back to the bowler.
  • 17.4
    1wd
    Simi Singh to David Wiese, WIDE! Full and sliding down leg. Wiese leaves it alone. Wide called by the umpire.
  • 17.3
    1
    Simi Singh to Gerhard Erasmus, Flatter and on off. Erasmus pushes it to cover for a single.
  • 17.2
    6
    Simi Singh to Gerhard Erasmus, SIX! Magnificent strike by Erasmus. He uses his feet really well here. Floated, full and on off. Gerhard Erasmus skips down the track and smokes it over the long off fence for a biggie. Namibia are nearly there.
  • 17.1
    2
    Simi Singh to Gerhard Erasmus, A couple now! Tossed up, on off. Erasmus makes room and lifts it over extra cover. The ball lands safely. The batters pick two runs.
  • END OF OVER 17 | 5 Runs & 0 Wkt | Namibia 105/2
  • Simi Singh is brought back into the attack. 
  • 16.6
    1
    Josh Little to Gerhard Erasmus, Great over by Little. Just 5 runs off it. A full-length ball, outside off. Erasmus guides it to third man for a run. 21 runs needed off 18 balls.
  • 16.5
    1
    Josh Little to David Wiese, A run a ball, does keep the game interesting at this stage. Full and outside off. Wiese steers it towards third man for another run.
  • 16.4
    1
    Josh Little to Gerhard Erasmus, Short ball, on middle and leg. Erasmus pulls it to deep square leg for another single.