Sports

Namibia bowled out by Australia to reach T20 World Cup Super 8

Published

4 months ago

June 12, 2024

Namibia’s hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup Super 8 was on Tuesday night truncated by Australia as they were bowled out for 72 in a thumping nine-wicket win in Antigua.

Australian leg-spinner, Adam Zampa, took 4-12 to reach a century of T20 international wickets, while Josh Hazlewood and Marcus Stoinis claimed two apiece.

Reports on the game noted that after dismissing Namibia in 17 overs, with only two batters reaching double figures, the Australia top order ruthlessly knocked off the runs inside the powerplay.

The victory took Australia above Scotland to the top of Group B, with the two sides playing each other in St Lucia on Sunday.

A win for Scotland would eliminate defending champions England, who first need to beat Oman and Namibia handsomely to have any chance of progressing.

On the other hand, Africa has a representative in Super 8 as
South Africa qualified after Sri Lanka’s match against Nepal in Lauderhill, Florida, was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain.

The result however, does not end Sri Lanka’s hopes of a top-two finish in Group D, but they require a highly unlikely sequence of results – including a washout when Bangladesh face the Netherlands on Thursday, to go through.

Australia captain, Mitchell Marsh, who spoke after the match, said:

“A great performance from our bowling team. All-round a very professional performance.

“It’s great to qualify for the Super 8s. We get pretty busy after our game against Scotland so we’ll manage as many people as we can over the next few days.”

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus:

“You can’t sit back against the best in the world – that’s one thing we’ve learned from tonight.

“The skill gap is perhaps there but you can close that a little bit by fighting fire with fire and we haven’t done that enough in this tournament.

“A good side like Australia will expose you if you’re not ready mentally.”

Related Topics:Australia Featured Namibia Super 8 T20

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Sports

South Africa thrash Ireland by eight wickets in first T20 meeting

Published

9 mins ago

September 28, 2024

Isaac Dachen

South Africa men national cricket team, The Proteas, on Friday, thrashed Ireland by eight-wickets in the first of their two-match T20 series played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The Proteas who reached the T20 World Cup final in June, came into the matches against Ireland on the back of an ODI series defeat by Afghanistan in Sharjah.

Ryan Rickelton and Reeze Hendricks struck half-centuries as South Africa romped to a victory with Rickelton making 76 off 48 balls and Hendricks adding 51 off 33 deliveries as South Africa’s opening pair put on 136 for the first wicket in reply to Ireland’s total of 171-8.

Earlier in the game, South Africa captain Aiden Markam called correctly and put Ireland into bat at the toss, with Ireland skipper Paul Stirling joined in the middle by Ross Adair, playing his ninth T20I in the absence of Lorcan Tucker.

Curtis Campher top-scored with the bat for Ireland, accumulating 49 as his team made 171-8 off their 20 overs but The Proteas responded with a dominant Rickelton and Hendricks putting on an opening partnership of 136 as the Proteas reached 174-2 to reach their target with 14 balls to spare.

South African-born Curtis Campher top-scored for Ireland with 49 and received support from wicketkeeper Neil Rock, who contributed 37 before Ireland lost their way late in the innings after being asked to bat first, while all-rounder Patrick Kruger finished with a triple-wicket maiden, snaring George Dockrell, Fionn Hand and Adair in the final over to end with figures of 4-27.

The second T20 match between the sides will be played at the same venue on Sunday when Ireland will aim to secure their first ever T20 victory over their opponents at the seventh attempt.

Sports

Kenyan duo of Faith Kipyegon, Mary Moraa win big at women-only Athlos meet

Published

22 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan duo of Faith Kipyegon and Mary Moraa were the major winners in the inaugural women-only track and field event at Athlos NYC 2024 held on Thursday at New York’s Icahn Stadium.

While Kipyegon secured victory in the 1500m in a time of 4 minutes, 79 seconds to claim victory, Moraa clinched second place in the 800m event to cart home the princely price money which superceded what Diamond League winners take home.

Three-time Olympic champion Kipyegon who was among three Kenyans alongside world champion Moraa who took part in the 800m and Susan Ejore-Sanders who joined the Olympian in the 1500m.

Launched by entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and husband to retired American tennis great, Serena Williams, the
Athlos championship aims to build off of the star power of women’s track events.

The winners of each event pocketed $60,000 – twice the prize money offered at the Diamond League finale – and first place finishers each received a custom Tiffany crown.

Speaking to journalists after the race, Kipyegon said:

“I pick inspiration from many characters back at home. I started competing when I was about fifteen years old and I am still going strong,” said Kipyegon in her victory speech.