Namibia seals historic T20 World Cup Super 12 spot
It took the African nation just 25 T20Is to achieve the incredible feat
SHARJAH (AFP) - Namibia sealed a historic win over Ireland to earn a Super 12 berth in the T20 World Cup 2021 in its maiden appearance Twenty20 World Cup qualifier at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
It took the African nation just 25 T20Is to achieve the incredible feat. Having made its T20I debut in 2019, Namibia made to the second round of the T20 WC with its 20th win in the format on Friday in Sharjah.
World number 19 Namibia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, chased down their modest target of 126 with skipper Gerhard Erasmus making an unbeaten 53.
They will finish behind Sri Lanka in Group A barring a heavy defeat for the 2014 champions in their final qualifier against Netherlands later Friday.
That would put Namibia in the same Super 12 section as India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland.
Placed in Group A alongside former champion Sri Lanka, Ireland and Netherlands, Namibia was undoubtedly the underdog. The side toppled the odds as it recovered from a hammering by the Lankans in its first match with a stunning upset over the Dutch.
In its biggest test on the big stage thus far, the Eagles began their final group game against Ireland with a sensational bowling display that restricted Balbirnie s men to 125 on a sluggish track. Gerhard Erasmus men then comfortably breezed through the chase with a fitting ending set by the skipper s unbeaten half-century and senior star David Wiese s cameo.
Earlier, Ireland won the toss and decided to bat first.
Ireland: Paul Stirling, Kevin O’Brien, Andy Balbirnie (capt), Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Neil Rock (wk), Simi Singh, Mark Adair, Josh Little, Craig Young
Namibia: Zane Green (wk), Craig Williams, Gerhard Erasmus (capt), David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Pikky Ya France, Ruben Trumpelmann, Michael van Lingen, Bernard Scholtz
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Chris Brown (NZL)
TV Umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG)
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
