AUS vs NAM: Australia secure Super 8 spot as Zampa, bowlers steamroll Namibia
Australia secured their safe passage into the Super 8 stages of the T20 World Cup 2024 as they thrashed Namibia by 9 wickets on June 12, Wednesday.
Adam Zampa was the star of the show with the ball as the bowlers stepped for the 2021 champions as they steamrolled past Namibia with ease. With the win, Australia joined South Africa as the second team to make it to the next round.
The Aussies won the toss on the day and put Namibia into batting first. Australia had given Mitchell Starc a rest for the game as the onus fell on the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Ellis to deliver the wickets early on. Hazlewood get Australia up and running as he dismissed Nikolaas Davin for just 2 runs in the 3rd over. This would trigger a major collapse for the African side as they went from 14 for 1 to 21 for 5 by the 9th over.
Zampa would begin his work with the wicket of Green and then proceed to rattle the Namibia lower order as he picked up 4 wickets on his way to becoming the leading wicket-taker for Australia in men’s T20Is. Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus, who had a very slow start, would provide some late resistance as he scored 36 off 43 balls to ensure they went past the 50-run mark. But his wicket signalled the end of the resistance as Namibia were bundled out for just 72 runs.
The Australia chase was given an incredible start as David Warner took the attack to the Namibia bowlers. Warner scored 20 off 8 balls before perishing in the 2nd over, but the damage was already done. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh carried on the momentum as Australia finished the match within the powerplay overs as the skipper hit the winning runs in the end.
No Starc, No problem for Australia
In the first game, Starc set the tone for Australia as they defended perfectly against Oman. However, he had a slight niggle in the game and it sort of affected him in the England game. Today, the pacer was given a rest and the likes of Cummins and Ellis were expected to support Hazlewood.
They did just that as the pacers controlled the momentum in the powerplay and put Namibia immediately on the back foot. Then, it was all about the Zampa show, as he ended with figures of 4 for 12 in 4 overs to wreak havoc. Zampa has now gone to 3rd in the top wicket-takers list in the ongoing campaign and these are wonderful signs for Australia in the Super 8s, where they’re expected to face India.
England on the brink after Australia win
England’s Super 8 hopes have now taken a big hit after Australia’s win. The defending champions have just 1 point from 2 matches and will face Oman and Namibia next. However, wins in those games might not be enough to save them.
England can maximum get to 5 points, the same as Scotland at the moment. In the game between Australia and Scotland, Buttler and Co. will be cheering their arch-rivals on and hoping they thrash Scotland.