T20 World Cup 2021, AFG vs NAM (Super 12): Relentless Afghanistan routs Namibia by 75 runs
By Ayush Gupta | First Published Oct 31, 2021, 8:00 PM ISTAfghanistan continued its relentless approach in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, as it defeated Namibia by 75 runs on Sunday. With this win, Afghanistan stays in contention for a semis berth.
Afghanistan has presented a dominant look of itself in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. Continuing on its trend, it has beaten Namibia by 66 runs in Group 2's Super 12 tie at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. With this win, Afghanistan stays in contention for a semi-final berth.
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Winning the toss, Afghan skipper Mohammad Nabi opted to bat, as he made a change by bringing in Hamid Hassan for an unfit Mujee-ur-Rahman. At the same time, Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus moved in with the same XI. The Afghan openers Hazratullah Zazai (33) and Mohammad Shahzad (45) put on a 53-run partnership before the former departed to pacer JJ Smit in the seventh over.
Fifteen runs later, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (4) was trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton in the tenth. At 89, Shahzad departed to Ruben Trumpelmann in the 13th, while 24 runs later, Najibullah Zadran (7) was trapped leg-before by Loftie-Eaton in the 16th. However, a 35-run partnership followed between Asghar Afghan (31) and Nabi (32*) before Trumpelmann got rid of the former in the 19th, at 148. Both sides gave him a guard of honour as he is retiring from cricket after the tournament.
Eventually, Afghanistan finished on 160/5. Namibia put seven bowlers into the attack, with Trumpelmann and Loftie-Eaton claiming a couple each, while the latter was the most economical from the side. In reply, Namibia openers Craig Williams (1), Michael van Lingen (11) and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (14) fell within the sixth over of the Powerplay, with 29 runs on the board.
Seven runs later, Zane Green (1) was bowled up by spinner Rashid Khan, while a 20-run stand followed between Erasmus (12) and David Wiese (26), as at 56, the former was cleaned up by Hamid in the 11th, followed by Smit (0) in the same over, at the same score. Namibia kept losing wickets regularly thereon.
Within the subsequent 24 runs, Namibia could manage 98/9, as Afghanistan registered another massive win by 62 runs. The Afghans utilised six bowlers, with Naveen-ul-Haq and Hamid claiming three each, while the latter nailed it with his economy.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 160/5 (Zazai- 33, Shahzad- 45, Afghan- 31, Nabi- 32; Loftie-Eaton- 2/21) defeated Namibia 98/9 (Wiese- 26; Hamid- 3/9, Naveen- 3/26) by 62 runs.
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