Australia is one step closer towards booking its spot in the T20 World Cup Super Eights, bowling out for Namibia for 72 at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Wednesday morning AEST.
It was the lowest team score against Australia in men’s T20Is, bettering the previous record of 73 by Bangladesh in 2021.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Namibia, T20 World Cup live scorecard
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa claimed four wickets as Namibia eclipsed their most recent effort against the Australians, when they were bowled out for 45 during the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
Captain Gerhard Erasmus top-scored for the Namibians with 36 (43), including five boundaries, to help set Australia a modest 73-run target for victory.
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Lowest team totals against Australia in men’s T20Is
72 — Namibia in North Sound, 2024
73 — Bangladesh in Dubai, 2021
74 — India in Melbourne, 2008
74 — Pakistan in Dubai, 2012
87 — Sri Lanka in Bridgetown, 2010
Earlier, following a brief rain delay, Namibia collapsed to 5-21 after Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl first, with Australia’s quicks wreaking havoc on the bouncy deck during the Powerplay.
Both of Namibia’s openers fell to Josh Hazlewood in almost identical fashion, carving short deliveries towards Glenn Maxwell at point, while Pat Cummins knocked over Jan Frylinck during a wicket maiden, caught by Marsh at mid-off.
Tasmanian seamer Nathan Ellis, replacing the rested Mitchell Starc in the starting XI, removed JJ Smit following a successful review for LBW before Zampa trapped Zane Green plumb on the pads the following over. Erasmus needed 17 deliveries to get off the mark, with sarcastic jeers echoing around the venue when he finally mustered a single in the ninth over.
Former Proteas all-rounder David Wiese became Zampa’s second victim after holing out towards deep mid-wicket, where Hazlewood held onto a superb low catch, before Ruben Trumpelmann clobbered the tweaker over square leg for the first six of the innings. However, Trumpelmann departed the following delivery after trying to repeat the shot, caught by Maxwell in the deep.
Best bowling figures by an Australian in Men’s T20 World Cups
5-19 — Adam Zampa vs BAN, 2021
5-27 — James Faulkner vs PAK, 2016
4-12 — Adam Zampa vs NAM, 2024
4-18 — Dirk Nannes vs BAN, 2010
4-20 — Stuart Clark vs SL, 2007
Zampa produced a gorgeous wrong-un to bowl Bernard Scholtz for a second-ball duck, finishing with 4-12, the third best bowling figures by an Australian at T20 World Cups. Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis cleaned up the tail as Namibia lost its final wicket in the 17th over.
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Australia XI
David Warner, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Namibia XI
Niko Davin, Michael van Lingen, Jan Frylinck, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), David Wiese, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo
Source Agencies
