Sport Desk
In a winner-takes-all duel, Namibia squared up against Ireland in the last group game at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and gracefully won the match by 8 wickets.
Namibia sealed a historic win over Ireland to seal a Super 12 berth in the T20 World Cup 2021 in its maiden appearance at the showpiece event.
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.
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.
Namibia recorded their maiden men’s World Cup win on Wednesday when they beat the Netherlands by six wickets in Abu Dhabi, taking and making another shot at history with the win against Ireland, who haven’t progressed past the preliminary round since 2012.
After a nearly 18-year wait, Namibia has charted a heartening return to the international cricket scene and will have plenty to rejoice as it joins Group 2 of the Super 12s. It will now rub shoulders with heavyweights India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan and fellow qualifier Scotland in the Super 12.
David Wiese is the Player of the Match.
