ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024: Namibia Storm Into WC With Fifth Consecutive Victory In Africa Qualifiers

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024: With only two spots on offer for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, Namibia have become the latest addition to the marquee tournament after securing their fifth consecutive win in the Africa qualifier.

Namibia clinched their place with a convincing 58-run victory over Tanzania. The win solidified Namibia's perfect record in the Qualifier tournament, securing their place at the top of the table with 10 points.

In the crucial match against Tanzania, Namibia faced a test of their batting depth. While all of the top four contributed runs, JJ Smit's unbeaten 24-ball 40 and crucial cameos from Zane Green and Nicol Loftie-Eaton propelled Namibia to a total of 157.

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Tanzania displayed skill in curbing Namibia's scoring, but the target of 158 proved too steep. Namibia's bowlers maintained control, restricting Tanzania to 99/6 and securing a 58-run victory.

 

Namibia's Performance In Tournament:

 

• Namibia's journey to T20 World Cup qualification began with a statement win over tournament favourites Zimbabwe by seven wickets. The bowlers maintained tight control over Zimbabwe's scoring, restricting them to 132/2 in 20 overs. Nikolaas Davin's blistering knock of 89 off 45 balls guided Namibia to a comfortable victory.
• In the second encounter, Namibia continued their successful run chase, this time against Uganda. The bowlers, led by David Wiese's impressive figures of 4/17, limited Uganda to a modest total of 114. Despite a brief setback with three quick wickets, Jan Frylinck and Captain Gerhard Erasmus steered Namibia to victory with three overs to spare.
• Facing Rwanda next, Namibia showcased their batting masterclass by posting a big total of 207/3 in 20 overs. Davin played a pivotal role with a 59-ball 80, guiding his team to a commanding position. Rain interrupted play with Rwanda struggling at 46/5, and Namibia secured two additional points through the DLS method.
• Against Kenya, Namibia's disciplined bowling restricted their opponents to 104/6. Irfan Karim's resilient 43* provided some resistance, but Namibia's Jan Frylinck (57*) and JJ Smit (14*) rescued the team with a match-winning partnership, guiding them to a six-wicket victory.

 

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Points table:

 

 

With two matches to go, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Kenya are the favourites to book the last slot available for the 2024 T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States and West Indies from June 4, 2024.