Huge task awaits against the Aussies

Namibian Eagles have a mountain to climb when they take on Australia in the T20 World Cup at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua tomorrow morning. 

Australia won their opening two matches comfortably, beating the defending champions England by 36 runs in the process, and have emerged as one of the favourites to win the title. 

Namibia got off to a winning start with a super over win against Oman when David Wiese’s experience and big match temperament carried them through, but then suffered a comprehensive five-wicket defeat to Scotland last Friday. 

Batting first, Namibia were restricted to 155/9 off their 20 overs, which was not enough as Scotland reached the target with nine balls to spare. 

Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus had a great knock, scoring 52 off 31 balls (5×4, 2×6) before being unneccessarily stumped, but he didn’t receive much support as Scotland’s bowlers bogged Namibias batters down. 

Zane Green added 28 off 27 balls and Niko Davin 20 off 12, but Scotland’s bowlers had the upper hand with Brad Wheal taking 3/33. 

In Scotland’s innings, Tangeni Lungameni got the breakthrough dismissing George Munsey for 7, and when Erasmus dismissed Michael Jones (26) and Brendan McMullen (19) the match was evenly poised with Scotland at 67/3 at the halfway stage. 

Bernard Scholtz upped the pressure when he trapped Matthew Cross lbw for 3, but Scotland captain Richie Berrington and Michael Leask regained the initiative with a fine partnership of 74 runs to steer them to victory, with Leask scoring 35 and Berrington 47 not out off 35 balls (2×4, 2×6). 

That win put Scotland at the top of Group B on five points, after they also beat Oman and drew to England, and they now stand a real chance of qualifying for the knockout stages. Even a defeat against England could see them going through at the expense of England, who have an inferior nett run rate. 

Namibia now have the unenviable task of taking points off heavyweights Australia and England in their final pool matches if they hope to progress to the knockout stages. 

Australia, who are second on the log on four points, will start as overwhelming favourites, especially after they beat Namibia by seven wickets in a warm-up match on 29 May.

This world cup, however, has already seen a few upsets and more cannot be discounted. 

The co-hosts United States have led the way with a stunning super over win against Pakistan in Group A, and after their seven-wicket victory against Canada, they now stand a great chance of making the knockout stages.

In Group C, Uganda got their debut World Cup win against PNG but suffered a huge 135-run defeat to the West Indies, who are the early frontrunners with Afghanistan.

South Africa, meanwhile, are the frontrunners in Group D, with Bangladesh and the Netherlands battling it out for the top-two position.