Moments of The Day: Same Story, Different Opposition
This match was similar to the India-Scotland match. Spinners choked the Associate nation, while Rohit-Rahul finished the rest.
Stephan Baard & Michael van Lingen started positively, scoring 33 in just 4.3 overs. However Bumrah and Jadeja soon reduced Namibia to 39/3. Jadeja was good, but the pick of the bowlers was Ashwin for me – The bowled off Green and couple of edges to slips were proper Test match off spin.
Wiese’s 26, along with Frylinck & Trumpelmann’s finishing helped Namibia to a competitive total. Altogether, David Wiese ended up as the fourth highest run-scorer at the end of the Super 12s with 227 runs, best of 66*, average of 45.40 & 127.50 SR. Not bad for someone representing Namibia for the first time.
Since the Afghanistan game, 4 players have had standout performances for Team India:
Jadeja: 1/19, 3/16, 3/15
Ashwin: 2/14, 1/29, 3/20
Sharma: 74, 30, 56
Rahul: 69, 50, 54*
While Rahul & Sharma almost killed the chase with a beautiful highlight package, Suryakumar Yadav was promoted ahead of Virat Kohli. A classic 25* (19) followed including an inside out shot and a pull. When asked later about the move, Kohli responded with, “Surya didn’t get much game time,…, and it’s a nice [World Cup] memory of him to take back.“
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: The Ravi Shastri Era Ends
Even though India did not win an ICC trophy during his tenure, India made large strides, especially in Test cricket. R Sridhar improved fielding standards all around and Bharat Arun is credited for the rise of India’s fast bowling attack around the globe. Ravi Shastri instilled the confidence which was evident in the home/away England series & the 2 series victories overseas against Australia, especially Gabba 2021 (rising from 36 All Out). An almost 2.0 W/L ratio across formats is unprecedented for an Indian coach.
He also mentioned that not having enough rest between the IPL and the World T20 attributed to not being switched on during crunch situations and pressure matches early on.
In any case, I will leave you with his own quote from today, “Sometimes in life, it’s not about all you accomplish, it’s about what you overcome.” Beautiful.
Have a great journey ahead coach! Whether that is coaching in the IPL or back to the commentary! Would also love to see a more free Virat Kohli.
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Namibia won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Umpires: Paul Reiffel & Paul Wilson
What Actually Happened
Winner: New Zealand won by 52 runs
Scores: New Zealand163/4Scotland 111/7
Player of the Match:Jimmy Neesham 35* (23) & 1-0-6-1
Best Figures
Bernard Schotlz (3-0-15-1)
Tim Southee (4-0-15-2)
Most Runs
Glenn Phillips 39* (21)
Michael Van Lingen 25 (25)
Moments of The Day: Phillips, Neesham Solidify NZ’s Case
NZ’s openers started well with a 30 run partnership in 4 overs before Guptill was caught out. In general, every batter in the NZ side contributed but at a slow SR.
It was Glenn Phillips (SR 185.71) & Jimmy Neesham (152.17) with a 76* (36) partnership that made sure NZ finished strongly.
Tim Southee is not the first bowler you think of for T20s. However, he manages to take wickets somehow (only one of few bowlers with 100+ Tests, ODI, & T20I wickets). A 4-0-15-2 set the tone with a slow powerplay and Namibia could not recover the finishing margin.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Namibia Lose the Plot Again
Just like their last game Pakistan Vs Namibia, Namibia had strangled their opposition for most of the innings. At the end of the 16th, NZ were going at a snail’s pace with only 96/4 runs on the board. Last 4 overs yielded 67 runs.
In comparison, Namibia were 92/4 at the end of the 16th. They only added 19 runs in the last 4. The finishing between the teams was the difference.
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Umpires: Chris Brown & Chris Gaffaney
What Actually Happened
Winner: Pakistan won by 45 runs
Scores: Pakistan 189/2Namibia144/5
Player of the Match:Mohammad Rizwan 79* (50)
Best Figures
David Wiese (4-0-30-1)
Imad Wasim (3-0-13-1)
Most Runs
Mohammad Rizwan 79* (50)
David Wiese 43* (31)
Moments of The Day:
Rizwan & Babar rise again. A 113-run partnership. They are now establishing an iconic T20I opening partnership.
Pakistan took more positives – Hafeez finished with 32* (16) & Hasan Ali returned with spells of 4-0-22-1.
David Wiese’s 43* ensured Namibia did not collapse for a low score and got 144.
If only they had restricted Pakistan earlier….
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Namibia Fail To Take Advantage
Pakistan had an uncharacteristically slow start. At the end of the Powerplay, Pakistan were 29/0, the fourth lowest of all time in T20Is, without losing a wicket. By the end of the 8th over, Pakistan were 45/0 with Babar Azam 33 (27) & Rizwan 12 (21).
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Afghanistan won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Umpires: Ahsan Raza & Chris Gaffaney
What Actually Happened
Winner: Afghanistan won by 62 runs
Scores: Afghanistan160/5Namibia 98/9
Player of the Match:Naveen-ul-Haq 3/26 (officially), he symbolically gave his award to Asghar Afghan
Best Figures
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (4-0-21-2)
Hamid Hassan (4-0-9-3)
Most Runs
Mohammad Shahzad 45 (33)
David Wiese 26 (30)
Moments of The Day: Openers, Medium Pacers Brush Namibia Aside
Openers Hazratullah Zazai (33) & Mohammad Shahzad (45) gave Afghanistan another quick start with 53 runs in 6.3 overs. After a brief collapse, Asghar Afghan (31) & Mohammad Nabi (32*) made sure that Afghanistan reached a competitive 160.
Although Naveen-ul-Haq provided the early blows and Gubadin Naib’s 2/19 squeezed Namibia, it was comeback kid Hamid Hassan that turned the match. Although he had not played any T20Is since the last T20 World Cup and only a couple of ODIs between the ODI WCs, his speed and accuracy was the moment of the day. 4-0-9-3 are figures of dreams and pace was pretty high. A true legend.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Asghar Afghan Retires
The leader of the Afghans for over a decade, Asghar Afghan retired surprisingly at the age of 33 in the middle of the tournament. The match was emotional. Namibia gave Asghar a guard of honor, and his teammates gave a guard of honor after he departed. In the mid-game interview, he mentioned that Pakistan’s close loss was too much to take so he decided to give way to youngsters.
Naveen-ul-Haq gave his player of the match trophy to Asghar as a tribute. Most of this team had debuted under Asghar and view him in high regard.
At the time of his retirement, he was joint highest for the most wins as a T20I captain alongside Eoin Morgan & MS Dhoni.
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Ireland won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue:Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Umpires: Aleem Dar & Chris Brown
What Actually Happened
Winner: Namibia won by 8 wickets
Scores: Ireland 125/8 – Namibia 126/2
Player of the Match: David Wiese
Best Figures
Jan Frylinck – 3/21
Curtis Campher – 2/14
Most Runs
Paul Stirling 38 (24)
Gerhard Erasmus – 53* (49)
Moments of The Day: Namibia Hold Nerve As Ireland Crash Out
Paul Sitrling & Kevin O’Brien have served Irish cricket for more than a decade and they continued to deliver. A 62-run partnership in seven odd overs set the platform for Ireland. Unfortunately they could not capitalize.
Although the batters have been in focus in Namibia’s progress, do not discount the collective bowling performance. With Frylinck (3/21), Scholtz (1/25), JJ Smit (1/27), Wiese (2/22), and Trumpelmann/Ya France (economical), Ireland only added 59 runs in the last 76 balls.
Let us talk about the captain Gerhard Erasmus. Although Wiese got a player of the match for quickfire 28* (14) with two sixes, Erasmus held Namibia together (and Wiese himself said Erasmus should have received the award). Scoring 53 (29) and staying unbeaten to see his team through was an emotional moment. The mature innings magnified his leadership.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Ireland Get a Taste of Their Own Medicine
The Ireland cricket team was the pioneer of Associate nations. Their victory over Pakistan in 2007 CWC and further progress over the decade saw them receive Test status. They defeated Pakistan, England, West Indies in various stages and what happened today? Ireland were ‘upset’ by Namibia. Full circle. Crash out of the World Cup.
The qualification complicacies and Round 1 of the T20 World Cup make it near impossible for certain Associate teams to join the big teams in the Super 12s. Namibia did it the hard way, by defeating at least 15 different nations.
Namibia make the Super 12 after defeating Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Saint Helena, Ghana, Uganda, Botswana, Scotland, Bermuda, Kenya, Singapore, Oman, Netherlands and Ireland.
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Max O’Dowd – 123 runs (Netherlands, 3 Matches)
Shakib Al Hasan – 9 wickets (Bangladesh, 3 Matches)
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Namibia won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Umpires: Langton Rusere & Michael Gough
What Actually Happened
Winner: Namibia won by 6 wickets
Scores: Netherlands 164/4 – Namibia 166/4
Player of the Match: David Wiese
Best Figures
Jan Frylinck – 2/36
Pieter Seelar – 1/8 (& Fred Klassen 4-0-14-1)
Most Runs
Max O’Dowd – 70(36)
David Wiese – 66* (40)
Moments of The Day:
Max O’Dowd’s excellent form continues – Another 50 for O’Dowd. Stayed throughout the innings and made sure Netherlands reached a competitive total. The highest scorer of the tournament so far, he would be disappointed by the lack of support from others around him.
Erasmus provides impetus and Wiese finishes it off in style – When Williams and Baard departed in consecutive overs, Netherlands would have felt they are closer to victory. However a quickfire 32 (22) from captain Erasmus and Wiese’s out of the world 66* innings made sure Namibia finish it in style.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Netherlands Lose 2 in 2
In the 2019 T20 World T20 Qualifier, Netherlands emerged as the winner. They are currently #11 in the ODI circuit and received ODI status as well. You wonder then, how did they fail to prepare for the T20 World Cup?
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Max O’Dowd – 123 runs (Netherlands, 3 Matches)
Shakib Al Hasan – 9 wickets (Bangladesh, 3 Matches)
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Umpires: Adrian Holdstock & Paul Reiffel
What Actually Happened
Winner: Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
Scores: Namibia 96/10 – Sri Lanka 100/3
Player of the Match: Mahesh Theekshana
Best Figures
Mahesh Theekshana – 3/25
Bernard Scholtz – 1/16
Most Runs
Craig Williams – 29(36)
Bhanuka Rajapaksa – 42 (27)
Moments of The Day: All-Round Bowling Performance, Fernando-Rajapaksa Key To Lanka’s Victory
Sri Lanka’s Pacers are the real deal – With combined figures of 8-0-36-2, Chamika Karunaratne & Dushmantha Chameera set the tone. Look out for them throughout the tournament.
Mahesh Theekshana the new Ajantha Mendis? Theekshana’s action and variations resemble Mendis, Lanka’s mystery spinner from 2008-12. Taking out the openers was key in restricting Namibia to 96. With Wanindu Hasaranga, they can form a potential mystery spin partnership.
Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa save Sri Lanka from embarrassment. Trumpelmann, Scholtz, and Smit had reduced Sri Lanka to 26-3 in 5 overs. Fernando’s switch to #4 position and Rajapaksa’s positive innings made sure Sri Lanka reaches victory without further hiccups. A dropped catch helped as well.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Namibia’s international comeback celebration cut short with poor display
Playing their first World Cup since 2003 ODI World Cup and an inspiring qualification campaign, a 96/10 might not accurately reflect their true quality. Associate nations have been on fire in this tournament, and Namibia’s defeat seemed like a disappointment. Hopefully, the team and star all-rounder David Wiese comes to the party as well.
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Jatinder Singh – 73* runs (Oman, 1 Match)
Zeeshan Mahmood – 4 wickets (Oman, 1 Match)
Calum MacLeod (Scotland, 1 Match) – 3 catches
Zane Green (Namibia, 1 Match), Neil Rock (Ireland, 1 Match) – 1 dismissal
Group A Table
Teams
Played
Won
Lost
Tied No-Result
Points
Net Run Rate
1. Sri Lanka
1
1
0
0
2
+ 2.607
2. Ireland
1
1
0
0
2
+ 1.755
3. Netherlands
1
0
1
0
0
– 1.755
4. Namibia
1
0
1
0
0
– 2.607
T20 World Cup 2021 Points Table
Also, if you have not yet read our T20 World Cup Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
