Adam Zampa carved out a unique place in cricket history with a standout performance in Australia’s record-breaking nine-wicket victory over Namibia, which secured their place in the T20 World Cup final eight. Zampa’s impressive four-wicket haul (4-12) made him the first Australian bowler to reach 100 wickets in T20i cricket, helping Australia dismiss Namibia for a mere 72 runs, the lowest total ever recorded against Australia in a T20i match.
Travis Head (34 not out), David Warner (20), and Mitch Marsh (18 not out) led Australia to their victory target in just 5.4 overs. This dominant win ensures that Australia will finish in the top two of Group B, securing a spot in the tournament’s Super 8 stage, irrespective of the outcome of Sunday’s final group-stage match against Scotland. The top two teams from the Super 8 stage will advance to the tournament’s knockout semi-finals.
Australia won the toss and opted to field first in Antigua. Fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood (2-18), Pat Cummins (1-16), and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (2-9) dismantled Namibia’s top order. Namibia found themselves in trouble, struggling at 3-17 by the end of the powerplay, with Hazlewood inflicting most of the early damage by taking 3 wickets for 1 run in just 10 balls.
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood had both Namibian openers, Niko Davin (two runs from seven balls) and Michael van Lingen (10 runs from 10 balls), caught by Glenn Maxwell at backward point. Jan Frylinck (one) soon followed, falling to Pat Cummins, who began his opening spell with a wicket maiden.
Namibia’s captain, Gerhard Erasmus (36 from 43 deliveries), offered a brief hope for his team but was one of only two batters to reach double figures. Australian seamer Nathan Ellis capitalized on his inclusion in the XI, replacing the injured Mitchell Starc, who sat out with a sore calf. Ellis (1-12) benefited from a successful lbw review, dismissing Namibia’s vice-captain JJ Smit for three and leaving Namibia in serious trouble at 4-18.
The spotlight once again belonged to Zampa, following his player-of-the-match performance in Australia’s previous victory over England. The 32-year-old bowler trapped wicketkeeper Zane Green (one) lbw and induced David Wiese (one) into a mistimed shot, which was caught by Hazlewood in the deep.
Zampa responded brilliantly after being hit for six by Ruben Trumpelmann (seven), one of only two Namibian shots to clear the boundary. The skilled leg-spinner then had Trumpelmann caught attempting the same shot through mid-wicket, and bowled Bernard Scholtz two deliveries later. Zampa’s four-wicket haul earned him the distinction of being the first Australian bowler to reach 100 wickets in T20 internationals.
