T20 World Cup 2024
England win against Namibia after rain drama
|| CF DESK ||
Reigning champions England maintained their bid to reach the second round of the T20 World Cup with a 41-run win over Namibia in a rain-hit Group B game Antigua on Saturday.
England had to win to stay alive in the tournament and this win took them level on points with Scotland.
But they could still be knocked out should Scotland defeat already-qualified Australia in St Lucia later Saturday or if that game ends in a no-result.
A match already reduced to 11 overs per side following a three-hour delay to the scheduled start, was cut to 10 overs per team when a fresh downpour halted play with England 82-3 off eight overs.
England then smashed 40 runs off the last two overs, with Harry Brook 47 not out and Liam Livingstone on 13 after hitting a pair of sixes off the first two of the mere four balls he faced from Ruben Trumpelmann (2-31).
Already-eliminated Namibia's target was adjusted to 127 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method for rain-interrupted matches.
England collapsed to 13-2 after being sent into bat by Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus.
But a stand of 56 in five overs between the Yorkshire duo of Jonny Bairstow (31) and Brook revived England's innings and they completed their 10 overs on 122-5.
Anything other than a victory against Namibia will see England knocked out, with Scotland joining already-qualified Australia in the second-round Super Eights before the two countries meet later Saturday in St Lucia.
Trumpelmann bowled England captain Jos Buttler, one of the world's best white-ball batsman, for a four-ball duck as he nipped one back sharply off the pitch.
The experienced David Wiese then produced a magnificent slower ball to have Phil Salt, England's other opener, caught behind.
But Bairstow and Brook then turned the tide, with teenage paceman Jack Brassell's two wicketless overs costing 32 runs.