Namibia on Friday became the 12th and final team to book a Super 12 spot of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with a big win against Ireland. In their final first-round, Group A match, Namibia chased down a target of 126 runs in 18.3 overs to register an eight-wicket win in Sharjah, UAE. Namibia thus joined Bangladesh, Scotland and Sri Lanka from the first round to Super 12. Man of the match, David Wiese hit the winning runs, a four to Craig Young to send his teammates to a frenzy. He remained unbeaten on 28 off 14, and was involved in an unbeaten 53-run stand with skipper Gerhard Erasmus, who played a captain's knock (53 not out off 49). Earlier, Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie won the toss and elected to bat. But, despite a good start from openers Paul Stirling (38 off 24) and Kevin O Brien (25 off 24), they managed only 125/8. Jan Frylinck took three wickets for Namibia. Former champions Sri Lanka became the first team to qualify for the tournament proper from the group. They take on an already eliminated Netherlands in the final first-round match. Catch highlights and cricket scores of the NAM vs IRE match here:
7:02 PM IST: Here's how the groups in Super 12 line-up
Group 1: Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies;
Group 2: Afghanistan, India, Namibia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Scotland.
6:49 PM IST: Result
Craig Young with the penultimate over. Gerhard Erasmus hits the first ball for a four, and fifty for the skipper in 48 balls. A single, then David Wiese hits a four to wrap up. An eight-wicket win and Namibia complete the Super 12.
6:46 PM IST: 9 In 12
Simi Singh with his last over. Gerhard Erasmus hits the second ball for a six. 12 from the over. Namibia need 9 runs in 12 balls. NAM - 117/2 (18)
6:33 PM IST: Unmovable Bails
What an over. Ball travelling at 128 km per hour and it doesn't do anything. Well, Ireland take a review for caught behind. Last resort! Nothing, only the spike of ball brushing the wicket. David Wiese survives. Before that Wiese hits Craig Young for two sixes off the second and third balls. 16 from the over. NAM - 93/2 (15)
6:22 PM IST: Stand Broken
Curtis Campher returns for his second over. And another catch for Kevin O Brien. A heave and Zane Green (24 off 32) is caught at mid off. David Wiese is the new batter. NAM - 73/2 (13.2)
6:18 PM IST: A Little Stand
Joshua Little with his third over. Gerhard Erasmus hits the first and last balls for four, making it a 10-run over. His stand with Zane Green is now worth 46 in 47. NAM - 71/1 (13)
6:02 PM IST: Drinks
Simi Singh with his second over. Eight from it. 24 runs and a wicket in the last five. Zane Green and Gerhard Erasmus in an unbeaten 24-run stand, off 29 balls. Namibia need 77 runs in 60 balls. NAM - 49/1 (10)
5:51 PM IST: Adair Leaves Field
Mark Adair fails to complete his second over after the fourth over. Cramp. Kevin O Brien takes over. Six from the over as Zane Green hits the fifth for a four. NAM - 33/1 (7)
5:41 PM IST: Williams Out
Stunning catch. A leaping Kevin O Brien takes a beauty at mid-on to send Craig Williams (15 off 16) back. Wicket for Curtis Campher. Gerhard Erasmus is the new batter. NAM - 25/1 (5.1).
5:30 PM IST: Quiet Start To The Chase
Joshua Little continues. Six from the over, including two wides. In the previous over, Craig Young conceded four runs, a boundary hit by Craig Williams off the fourth. NAM - 11/0 (3)
5:22 PM IST: Chase Begins
Joshua Little with the first over. Craig Williams takes the strike. Three dots, then a single to third man. Then two more dots to Zane Green. One from the over. Target - 126.
5:06 PM IST: Innings Break
David Wiese with the final over. One wicket, that of Simi Singh (5 off 5), and seven runs from it. His figures: 2/22. 30 runs in the last five. IRE - 125/8 (20).
4:59 PM IST: Seven Down
JJ Smit on with his final over. And he cleans up Neil Rock (5 off 5). 23 runs and five wickets in the last 30 balls. Simi Singh is the new batter. IRE - 116/7 (18.4)
4:53 PM IST: The Collapse
Three wickets in ten balls. David Wiese gets Harry Tector (8 off 6), caught by Zane Green. IRE - 110/6 (17.4)
4:50 PM IST: 3/12 For Frylinck
Another one for Jan Frylinck. Curtis Campher (4 off 5), bowled. Two wickets and three runs in the over. Neil Rock is the new batter. Frylinck's figures: 3/12. IRE - 104/5 (17)
4:46 PM IST: Second For Frylinck
Jan Frylinck on with his final over. And he strikes. Andrew Balbirnie (21 off 28) is trapped in front. IRE - 101/4 (16.1)
4:44 PM IST: 100 Up
Another good over for Namibia. Ruben Trumpelmann with his third and six from it. In the previous over, David Wiese leaked only one. IRE - 101/3 (16)
4:34 PM IST: Three Down
David Wiese returns for his second over. And he gets the wicket of Gareth Delany (9 off 18), bowled. 25 runs and a wicket in the last 30 balls. Curtis Campher joins Andrew Balbirnie in the middle. IRE - 94/3 (14.2)
4:29 PM IST: Irish Struggle
JJ Smit with his third over. Two singles and a double from it. Andrew Balbirnie and Gareth Delany struggling to score freely. IRE - 88/2 (13)
4:16 PM IST: Good Spell For Namibia
Pikky Ya France on with his first over. Just three runs, including a wide. Five runs in two overs. 28 runs and two wickets in the last five as Namibia pull things back against Ireland in Sharjah. IRE - 71/2 (10)
4:10 PM IST: Quick Wickets
Jan Frylinck strikes. Kevin O Brien (25 off 23) picks up JJ Smit at deep square leg. Wickets of successive overs. Gareth Delany is the new man in the middle. IRE - 67/2 (8.4)
4:02 PM IST: First Wicket
Bernard Scholtz on with his second over. And he gets the big wicket of Paul Stirling (38 off 24), caught at long on by a sliding Nicol Loftie-Eaton. Andrew Balbirnie is the new batter. IRE - 62/1 (7.2)
3:57 PM IST: Powerplay Over
Jan Frylinck gets his first over. 12 from it with Kevin O Brien hitting the first and fourth balls for fours. IRE - 55/0 (6)
3:44 PM IST: Stirring From Stirling
JJ Smit with this first over. Paul Stirling hits the second ball for a six, over long on. 11 from the over. In the previous over, David Wiese conceded six, including a four off the fourth ball, hit by Stirling. IRE - 20/0 (3)
3:35 PM IST: Quiet Start
Ruben Trumpelmann with the first over. Paul Stirling takes a single off the first ball. Two dots to Kevin O Brien. A single, and a wide, then another dot to end the over. Three from it.
3:08 PM IST: Playing XIs
Namibia: Zane Green (wk), Craig Williams, Michael van Lingen, Gerhard Erasmus (c), David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Pikky Ya France, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz.
Ireland: Paul Stirling, Kevin O Brien, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Neil Rock (wk), Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Craig Young, Joshua Little.
3:03 PM IST: Toss
Ireland win the toss and they will bat first against Namibia.
