T20 World Cup 2021: New Zealand keeps pressure on India alive with 52-run win over Namibia

By Ayush Gupta | First Published Nov 5, 2021, 8:23 PM IST

New Zealand has edged one step closer to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. It has defeated Namibia by 52 runs in the Super 12 stage, as the win has piled pressure on India.

New Zealand is leaving no stones unturned in its quest to qualify for the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup semis. On Friday, it defeated minnow Namibia by 52 runs in Group 2's Super 12 stage at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. With this win, the pressure has piled on India in the quest for its race for the semis.

FULL SCORECARD: ICC T20 World Cup 2021 - New Zealand vs Namibia (Super 12)

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Winning the toss, Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus opted to field while he made a couple of forced changes. On the other hand, Kiwi captain Kane Williamson moved in with the same XI. NZ lost Martin Guptill (18) in the fifth over to pacer David Wiese over, while his opening partner Daryl Mitchell (19) departed to spinner Bernard Scholtz in the seventh, 13 runs later.

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Williamson (28) and Devon Conway (17) contributed to a 38-run stand for the third wicket before leg-spinner Erasmus knocked over the former in the 13th, at 81. At the same time, just six runs later, the latter was unfortunately run out in the 14th. Nonetheless, Glenn Phillips (39*) and James Neesham (35*) batted out until the end of the innings, contributing 75 more, as NZ finished on a par total of 163/4.

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The Namibians used seven bowlers, with only three claiming a wicket each, while pacer Karl Birkenstock was the most economical one from the side. In reply, Namibia started slow, with openers Stephan Baard (21) and Michael van Lingen (25) contributing 47 before the latter was cleaned up by pacer Neesham in the eighth, followed by the latter, three runs later, after being knocked over by spinner Mitchell Santner in the ninth.

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Wickets kept tumbling for Namibia, as three runs later, at 55, Erasmus (3) fell to leg-spinner Ish Sodhi in the tenth. Although Zane Green (23) and Wiese (16) put on 31 more for the fifth wicket, the latter was trapped leg-before by pacer Tim Southee, followed by the former, at 102, to the same in the 18th.

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The remaining batters could all finish in single figures, as Namibia could manage 111/7, falling short 52 runs. The Kiwis were incredibly tight with their lengths, as they put six bowlers into the attack, with Southee and Boult claiming a wicket each, while the former was quite economical.
Brief scores: NZ 163/4 (Phillips- 39*, Neesham- 35*; Scholtz- 1/15) beat NAM 111/7 (Van Lingen- 25; Southee- 2/15) by 52 runs.

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