ICC T20 WC: Afghanistan register second massive win, thrash Namibia

Afghanistan thrashed Namibia by 62 runs at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi to keep up their hopes of making the semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan after opting to bat posting 160 for five in their 20 overs and Namibia in their chase finished on 98 for nine in 20 overs to lose by a massive margin.

Earlier, Afghanistan started off well with Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad added 53 for the first wicket. Zazai made 33 off 27 balls and Shahzad slammed 45 off 33 balls. That start set the foundation for Afghanistan. Later, former captain Asghar Afghan playing in his final international for Afghanistan took charge. He scored 31 off 23 balls as he hit three boundaries and a six. Afghan shared crucial stands with batsmen. His partnership with current captain Mohammad Nabi really helped Afghanistan. Nabi finished on a rapid 32 off 17 balls wit five boundaries and a six. The innings finished on a high as Afghanistan ended on 160 for five in their 20 overs.

For Namibia the wicket-takers were Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (2-21) and Ruben Trumpelmann (2-34).

In their response, Namibia lost the top-order for next to nothing. Naveen-ul-Haq struck in his first two overs as he dismissed their openers Craig Williams and Michael van Lingen. Then senior pro Gulbadin Naib dismissed Loftie-Eaton. Namibia lost wickets thereafter at regular intervals. Only senior pro David Wiese offered some resistance to some accurate Afghanistan bowling. None of the other batsmen showed any gumption for a fight. Comeback man Hamid Hassan bowled a terrific spell where he bowled yorkers at will as he dismissed Namibia Gerhard Erasmus for just 12. He also claimed JJ Smit and Wiese to break the back of Namibia.

In the end Namibia finished on 98 for nine in their 20 overs. For Afghanistan the best bowlers were Naveen-ul-Haq (3-26), Hamid Hassan (3-9) and Gulbadin Naib (2-19).

Asghar Afghan speaks to the media after Afghanistan beat Namibia by by 62 runs

© ICC / T20 World Cup

Match Summary

Afghanistan: 160-5 (20)
Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Hazratullah Zazai-6.4 ov), 2-68 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz-9.5 ov), 3-89 (Mohammad Shahzad-12.4 ov), 4-113 (Najibullah Zadran-15.4 ov), 5-148 (Asghar Afghan-18.6 ov)

Namibia: 98-9 (20)
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Craig Williams-0.4 ov), 2-16 (Michael van Lingen-2.4 ov), 3-29 (Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton-5.2 ov), 4-36 (Zane Green-7.1 ov), 5-56 (Gerhard Erasmus-10.3 ov), 6-56 (JJ Smit-10.6 ov), 7-69 (Jan Frylinck-14.5 ov), 8-77 (Pikky Ya France-15.6 ov), 9-80 (David Wiese-16.5 ov)

Result: Afghanistan won by 62 runs

Scorecard

Afghanistan get back to winning ways in style ??#T20WorldCup | #AFGvNAM | https://t.co/rCKvTe1kpV pic.twitter.com/219x3Usf6U

— ICC (@ICC) October 31, 2021

Playing XIs
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wicket-keeper), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Asghar Afghan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (captain), Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan

Namibia: Craig Williams, Michael van Lingen, Jan Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (captain), Zane Green (wicket-keeper), JJ Smit, David Wiese, Jan Frylinck, Pikky Ya France, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz

Match Details

Toss: Afghanistan, elected to bat
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Start time: 1400 hrs UAE time
Match officials: Ahsan Raza, Chris Gaffaney (On-field Umpires); Paul Reiffel (TV Umpire); Richard Illingworth (Reserve Umpire); Javagal Srinath (Match-referee)

©Cricket World 2021