12-Jun-2024 09:57 PM
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Antigua, June 12 (Reporter) Adam Zampa's brilliant 4/12 helped Australia secure a resounding 9-wicket victory over Namibia, advancing to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Wednesday.
Zampa became the first Australian to reach 100 wickets in T20Is, showcasing his exceptional bowling skills. Alongside him, Josh Hazlewood and Marcus Stoinis each claimed two wickets, while Pat Cummins and Nathan Ellis added one each. Their combined effort restricted Namibia to a mere 72 runs, highlighting a dominant performance by the Australian bowlers.
Winning the toss and opting to bowl, Australia quickly took control of the match. Hazlewood struck early, dismissing Niko Davin and setting the tone for their dominance.
Namibian batsmen struggled to build any momentum, with Michael van Lingen contributing only 10 runs and captain Gerhard Erasmus fighting valiantly with 36 runs off 43 balls.
Despite Erasmus's efforts, Namibia's innings lacked meaningful partnerships, leading to their lowest T20 total against Australia.
In response, Australia chased the target with ease. David Warner and Travis Head provided a strong start, with Warner scoring a quickfire 20 runs off just 8 balls before being dismissed by David Wiese. This dismissal was Namibia's only breakthrough in the match.
Skipper Mitchell Marsh then joined Head to steer Australia to a comfortable win, ensuring their flawless performance continued into the Super 8 stage.
Namibia's bowling effort faced significant challenges. After Warner's dismissal, the Namibian bowlers failed to secure any additional wickets. Their inability to break the Australian partnerships allowed Marsh and Head to comfortably chase down the target, leading to a heavy defeat for Namibia.
Australia's victory not only highlighted their dominant performance but also secured their advancement to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup, where they will face more challenging opponents.
Brief scores: Namibia 72 in 17 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 36; Adam Zampa 4-12, Marcus Stoinis 2-9, Josh Hazlewood 2-18) lost to Australia 74/1 in 5.4 overs (Travis Head 34*, David Wiese 1-15) by nine wickets...////...