Home Sport Cricket #T20WorldCup: Namibia ready to keep punching above their weight

#T20WorldCup: Namibia ready to keep punching above their weight

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Namibia’s David Wiese (right) greets Netherland’s cricketers after Namibia’s victory at the end of the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match on October 20. Picture: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE, AFP

Namibia will be eyeing a famous win against a Scotland side that they beat in a warm-up fixture just two weeks ago.

JOHANNESBURG – Namibia have already achieved ‘the impossible’ and made it through to the T20 Super 12 phase, but now they have nothing to lose as they begin the next step of their journey in Group 2 against Scotland in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Namibia player Pierre de Bruyn said: “We’re looking forward to this next stage, it’s ultimately a dream that’s come true for these players.

“All they had the last few years until now was to watch these guys on TV and dream about it and they’re going to wake up in the morning thinking it’s real and I’m just so pleased for them.”

The Southern African side beat Ireland and the Netherlands in the first round to make it through to the Super 12 stage at their first-ever T20 World Cup.

ALSO READ: Former Proteas star gives Namibia first #T20WorldCup win

And Namibia will be eyeing a famous win against a Scotland side that they beat in a warm-up fixture just two weeks ago.

Scotland were the most impressive of the nations in the first round, upsetting Bangladesh before overcoming Oman and Papua New Guinea.

ALSO READ: Greaves stars as Scotland rattle Bangladesh

But Kyle Coetzer’s side came crashing down to earth in their Super 12 opener on Monday, finding themselves on the end of a hammering against Afghanistan.

With India, New Zealand and an in-form Pakistan making up the rest of Group 2, both teams will be eyeing this fixture as their best chance to record a Super 12 win at the tournament.

A key player for Namibia will be former South Africa international David Wiese. Namibia’s big-hitting all-rounder was central to their run to the Super 12 stage. He picked up wickets against both the Netherlands and Ireland, banging an unbeaten 66 against the Dutch before sealing qualification with a quick-fire 28 unbeaten against the Irish.

In the three matches played in the World Cup, Wiese has scored 100 runs at a strike rate of 163.93 and chipped in with three wickets. His wealth of experience across multiple T20 leagues makes him the top captaincy pick for this match.

African News Agency (ANA)

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