Match 11, Sharjah, October 22, 2021, 03:30 PM
Ireland
125/8(20.0ov)
Namibia
126/2(18.3ov)
Namibia beat Ireland by 8 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
David Wiese
Commentry
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.
In over# 19
4
1
4
Craig Young 33/0(3.3)
18.3
4
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
Slower, full-length ball, on off. Eramus pushes it to mid off for a single.
18.1
4
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.
Craig Young (3-0-24-0) comes back on.
In over# 18
1
1
0
1wd
1
6
2
Simi Singh 28/0(4)
17.6
1
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
A single now! Short and outside off. Wiese cuts it to backward point for a run.
17.4
.
Flighted, full and on leg. Wiese pushes it back to the bowler.
17.4
1wd
WIDE! Full and sliding down leg. Wiese leaves it alone. Wide called by the umpire.
17.3
1
Flatter and on off. Erasmus pushes it to cover for a single.