Australia's Dominant Performance Secures Super 8s Spot. Namibia Eliminated

In their first-ever T20 International meeting, Australia delivered a clinical and ruthless performance, dismantling Namibia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Adam Zampa's exceptional bowling figures of 4 for 12 restricted Namibia to a meagre 72 runs. The 2021 champions then chased down the target in just 5.4 overs, ensuring their qualification to the Super 8s while eliminating Namibia from the tournament.

Namibia's Innings

PowerPlay: Hazlewood and Cummins Dominate Early

Phase Score: 17/3 (Run Rate: 2.83, Boundaries: 2/0)

After winning the toss, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh elected to bowl. Despite the absence of Mitchell Starc, Australia's fast bowlers quickly subdued Namibia. Michael van Lingen managed to hit a boundary in each of the first two overs, but these turned out to be the only boundaries Namibia struck during the PowerPlay. Josh Hazlewood initiated Namibia's collapse by forcing Nikolaas Davin to cut a wide ball directly to point. Pat Cummins followed up in the fourth over, with Jan Frylinck driving a full delivery straight to mid-off. Hazlewood continued the pressure, dismissing van Lingen who also fell to a cut shot aimed at point, leaving Namibia struggling early.

Middle Overs: Zampa Takes Charge

Phase Score: 43/5 (Run Rate: 4.77, Boundaries: 4/1)

Namibia's innings found no momentum, as wickets fell steadily and runs were hard to come by. Nathan Ellis trapped JJ Smit LBW with a quick, skidding ball in his first over. Gerhard Erasmus, the Namibian captain, struggled to score, taking 17 balls to get his first run. Adam Zampa, relentless in his approach, missed a review but soon rectified it by trapping Zane Green LBW on a missed sweep. Zampa continued his onslaught, with David Wiese falling to a shortish delivery and Ruben Trumpelmann hitting a full toss for six before getting caught at deep mid-wicket the next ball. Zampa celebrated his 100th T20I wicket by clean bowling Bernard Scholtz with a sharp-turning googly, leaving Namibia in disarray at 43/8.

Death Overs: Erasmus Fights Briefly but Namibia Collapses

Phase Score: 12/2 (Run Rate: 6.00, Boundaries: 0/1)

As Namibia’s innings drew to a close, Erasmus attempted to counter-attack with a well-timed six off Cummins. However, his resistance was short-lived as he misjudged a shot off Marcus Stoinis and was caught at long-on by Glenn Maxwell, who claimed his fourth catch of the match. Tim David's sharp fielding resulted in another wicket for Stoinis, ending Namibia's innings three overs short of their full quota.

Australia's Innings

PowerPlay: Head and Warner Blitz to Victory

Phase Score: 74/1 (Run Rate: 13.05, Boundaries: 11/4)

In response, Australia wasted no time in their chase. David Warner was aggressive from the start, hitting four boundaries off the eight balls he faced, signalling Australia's clear intent. Travis Head followed suit, attacking Ben Shikongo in the third over with two fours and a six. Although Erasmus managed to concede just six runs in the fourth over, Australia’s relentless pursuit continued. Head then smashed three consecutive fours off Trumpelmann, and captain Marsh finished the match in style with a sequence of four, six, and four, wrapping up the game with 86 balls to spare.

Brief Scores

- Namibia: 72 in 17 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 36; Adam Zampa 4-12, Marcus Stoinis 2-9, Josh Hazlewood 2-18)

- Australia: 74/1 in 5.4 overs (Travis Head 34*, David Wiese 1-15)

- Result: Australia won by nine wickets.

Next Matches

- Australia will head to St Lucia for their final group game against Scotland on June 15.

- Namibia will remain in Antigua to face England on the same day.