Namibia against Scotland
Bridgetown, 8 p.m. local
Overview: Opportunity Presents After Washout
The magic number would appear to be 109, judging by the two very contrasting clashes that have played out so far in Group B of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
On Sunday evening in Barbados, Namibia rumbled and clawed their way to two valuable points thanks to David Wiese’s Super Over heroics, after only just managing to match Oman’s total of 109 on the very last ball of his initial 20 overs.
And then two days later, on the same surface at Bridgetown (although a slower and less sticky version judging by the fluidity of Scotland’s opening matches), George Munsey and Michael Jones dispatched the England bowlers for 90 runs in ten overs either side of a two-hour match. rain delay… which, by the time the DLS had worked its magic, meant England would have needed a target of, yes, 109 had the weather not turned up to spoil the game’s fun afternoon.
And so it’s back to Bridgetown that we opt for two teams who are on significant momentum since the end of their respective campaigns at the last T20 World Cup in 2022. Last year, Namibia and Scotland dominated their regional qualifiers, in Africa and Europe. respectively, with six wins from six, against less touted opponents than Italy and Tanzania. Today, however, they face off with much more than transcontinental bragging rights to play for.
England’s usual discomfort with their European opponents contributed to this. Whether Tuesday’s elimination was a won or lost opportunity for Scotland, the fact that the Group B top seeds failed to secure the expected two points means the door is ajar for a notable upset, particularly if Australia can inflict more damage on England’s position in Saturday’s match. heavyweight clash.
In the meantime, all that matters is victory here and now. If Scotland can claw back the extra point that eluded them last time out, and then maintain their 100% record in T20Is against Oman when they meet in Antigua on Sunday, then they will begin their final group match against Australia next week with a qualifier in their own country. hands. There are of course a lot of “ifs” at this point. But one less than they needed at the start of their campaign.
As for Namibia, a three-point gap at the top of Group B awaits them if they can make it two wins out of two – and if they need any extra incentive, they need only look back at their last World Cup campaign. T20 World Cup two years ago, when qualification for the main event beckoned after their impressive win over Sri Lanka in their opening match, only for Netherlands and UAE snatch away their dream. They will do double duty to ensure that this last good start is not wasted.
Namibia TWWLL (Last five matches completed; most recent first)
Scotland LWLWW
In the spotlight: Munsey and Trumpelmann
During a two-halve set on Tuesday, Jones raced for Scotland before the rain break, including with what appeared to be the moment of the day – a violent pick-up from Chris Jordan that smashed a solar panel on the ground. roof at the central ticket office. But then, when the 22 balls were restarted, it was all about George Munsey, who hit 23 of his remaining 12 balls, including a superb switch-hit six that a left-handed KP could hardly have timed better. Namibia, however, knows from recent experience that this shot is a Munsey trademark – at Kirtipur in February 2023, he deployed a similar shot for four to bring up his maiden ODI hundred and seal a stunning ten-wicket victory with a whopping 167 balls. save. In 2017, he scored his only first-class hundred against the same opponents, in the Intercontinental Cup in Ayr.
Munsey, however, will remember only too well what happened the last time he encountered the left arm swing of Ruben Trumpelmannduring a T20 World Cup. Facing the first ball of the match, in Abu Dhabi 2021, Munsey climbed into a cut but misjudged the width and hit the ball onto his own stumps. Three balls later, Scotland were 2 for 3, as Calum McLeod and Richie Berrington were sent out of the crease with aplomb to rival Mitchell Starc. And, fortunately for Namibia, Trumpelmann began this latest tournament with similar devastation. Two balls against Oman, two wickets in the bag, as Kashyap Prajapati and Aqib Ilyas fell to wild, stump-seeking heavyweights.
The good news is that the weather in Barbados looks significantly better than it did in the first week of the tournament. Only a small chance of rain is forecast each day through Sunday.
Namibia were scared in their first match against Oman but ultimately won. An unchanged team could be in sight.
Namibia (probable): 1 Michael van Lingen, 2 Nikolaas Davin, 3 Jan Frylinck, 4 Gerhard Erasmus (captain), 5 JJ Smit, 6 David Wiese, 7 Zane Green (week), 8 Malan Kruger, 9 Ruben Trumpelmann, 10 Bernard Scholtz , 11 Tangeni Lungameni
Precisely two Scottish players got to taste the atmosphere of a Caribbean World Cup on Tuesday, but the confidence that Munsey and Jones will have telegraphed through their non-stop stand should not be underestimated. There’s no reason to think there will be any adjustments to the lineup that was trusted for their opening outing.
Scotland (probable): 1 George Munsey, 2 Michael Jones, 3 Brandon McMullen, 4 Richie Berrington (captain), 5 Matt Cross (week), 6 Michael Leask, 7 Chris Greaves, 8 Mark Watt, 9 Brad Wheal, 10 Chris Sole, 11Brad Currie
“Every match at a World Cup is a big match, regardless of the opponent, so nothing changes in terms of process and preparation. We may not have as big a crowd watching us, but we always know it’s just as important a game and we need to win to really compete here.”
Brad Whealthe Scottish seamer, is preparing for a major showdown.
“The associates are ready. They want to play. They can’t wait to go.”
Rubel Trumpelmann of Namibia believes full member teams could be in for surprises later
