In a rain-soaked Group B encounter of the T20 World Cup, England overcame Namibia by 41 runs (DLS method) late on Saturday (IST) at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium to maintain their hopes of qualifying.
In a match that was cut short, the reigning champions were boosted by Harry Brook’s 47 off 20. The match was shortened from its initial rain-delayed 11 overs a side to 10 overs a side after a mid-innings delay.
Namibia would therefore need to chase a DLS-adjusted 127 in order to win. When play eventually resumed following a protracted rain delay, England was at 13/2 after Jos Buttler was dismissed for a duck by Ruben Trumpelmann in the second over and Phil Salt was bowled out by David Wiese in the next. After that, Jonny Bairstow and Brook stabilised the ship with a strong 56-run partnership until Bairstow was caught off Bernard Scholtz by wicketkeeper Zane Green.
Play ended with England 82/3 due to rain. When they resumed, Brook was helped by Moeen Ali (16) and Liam Livingstone (13), who was out on the last delivery of the innings after facing four balls.
With a sizable target to pursue, Namibia’s opening partnership got off to a fast start as Nikolaas Davin and Michael van Lingen put up a 44-run partnership that ended with Davin’s retirement at the end of the sixth over. In consecutive Adil Rashid deliveries, it forced Wiese to the crease, moved him up the order, and allowed him to smash two sixes and a four.
However, the England bowlers had to take action, and they managed to limit Namibia to 84/3. In the last over, Brook was declared Player of the Match after making crucial catches to remove van Lingen off Chris Jordan and Wiese off Jofra Archer.
Brief scores: Namibia 84/3 in 10 overs (Michael van Lingen 33, David Wiese 27; Jofra Archer 1-15) lost to England 122/5 in 10 overs (Harry Brook 47*, Jonny Bairstow 31; Ruben Trumpelmann 2-31) by 41 runs (DLS method). (IANS)