Australia have secured their place in the second round of the World T20, producing a scary display against Namibia at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Aussies produced a ruthless display in all departments, chasing down the Namibians’ total of 72 inside six overs.
Spinner and Player-of-the-Match Adam Zampa picked up a slice of history taking four wickets for the Aussies, who had their African opponents all out in 17 overs.
It was captain Mitch Marsh’s first won toss of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign. He opted to send Namibia in and pile on pressure with the ball.
Australia enjoyed a dream first six overs, picking up three wickets for only 17 runs, piling pressure on the Namibians’ top order. Josh Hazlewood was lethal with the ball, taking 2-0, bowling three overs inside the Powerplay.
Zampa joined the party soon after, as the Aussies continued displaying its supreme bowling depth. Namibia slumped to 21-5 off nine overs with the removal of wicketkeeper Zane Green.
Captain Gerhard Erasmus scored a rare boundary as Namibia got to 31-5 at the 10-over mark. But when Zampa and Hazlewood combined for the sixth wicket, the second ball after drinks, the African side found themselves in even more trouble. It was a crisp outfield catch from Hazelwood for Zampa’s second wicket.
Ruben Trumpelmann decided to go after the spinner, crunching a 97-metre six over midwicket. But the Namibian holed out to Glenn Maxwell at the same part of the ground next ball, handing Zampa his third pole.
Zampa then ended his spell, in the same over, with wicket number four, removing Bernard Scholtz for figures of 4-12. The well executed wrong’un also completed Zampa’s path to 100 T20I wickets, becoming the first Australian men’s player to reach that milestone.
Zampa joins Megan Schutt and Ellyce Perry as the only compatriots to reach that mark in the short format at international level.
Erasmus prioritised survival, as wickets fell around him, which paid dividends as his 36 off 43 balls gave Namibia something to defend. His side was all out in 17 overs when Marcus Stoinis removed Ben Shikongo – his second wicket.
Zampa (4), Hazlewood (2), Stoinis (2), Pat Cummins (1) and Nathan Ellis (1) were all wicket takers for Australia.
Following on from an aggressive display with the ball, Australia’s openers picked up the attack right from the outset. David Warner went 4-4-6-out in the second over, as David Weise had the last laugh in an eventful exchange.
But it didn’t impact Travis Head’s approach, who produced an impressive array of strokes on the way to a seven-boundary, 17-ball 34*. Head was supported by Marsh (18* off 9 balls), as Australia completed the run chase inside six overs. (ICC)