Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIA beat the Netherlands by six wickets today with only six balls remaining, in its second ICC T20 World Cup Group A cricket game. This is the first-ever win for Namibia in a T20 WC match.
After being bowled out for its joint-lowest T20 total – 96 against Sri Lanka – batting first on Monday, Namibia opted to chase in Abu Dhabi. Namibia made one change to its line-up from the team that was heavily defeated by Sri Lanka and replaced offspinner Pikky Ya France with left-arm seamer Michael van Lingen.
Batting first, the Dutch managed 164/4 in 20 overs. Max O’Dowd scored a valiant 70. In response, Namibia (166/4) chased down the target, with David Wiese playing a match-winning knock.
Namibia was 51 for 3 and was in deep trouble. The run rate needed was almost 10, but then came the stand which completely changed the game. A 93-run stand between Wiese and Gerhard Erasmus took Namibia to the brink of victory.
Erasmus fell, but Wiese ensured he was there until the end and took his side over the line. Namibia collect two valuable points. Namibia posted its maiden victory in Group A and has two points from two matches.
It has a NRR of -1.163. Meanwhile, Netherlands suffered its second successive defeat and is out of the tournament. Wiese has taken the game away from the Dutch single-handedly.
Wiese was selected as Player of the Match and said that it is a special feeling to win this match for Namibia and thanked the team’s management for believing in him and giving him a chance.
Namibia’s match feats: Wiese slammed his maiden T20I fifty for Namibia. He struck an unbeaten 66, hitting four fours and five sixes. Meanwhile, Erasmus became the first Namibia batter with 550-plus runs in T20Is (574). He now has the most fours for Namibia in T20Is (49). Erasmus and Wiese stitched Namibia’s joint-third highest partnership for any wicket in T20Is.
