 "Adam Zampa is the first Australian man to reach the milestone of 100 T20I wickets. AFP")
Australia Wednesday became the second team to qualify for Super Eights of the T20 World Cup 2024 after South Africa with a nine-wicket thrashing of Namibia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Tuesday.
T20 World Cup 2024: News | Schedule | Results | Points Table
Namibia’s rout was scripted by leg-spinner Adam Zampa who returned bowling figures of 4-12 as the Africans were bundled out for 72 off 17 overs – their lowest total in men’s T20Is
Australia then completed the chase in just 5.4 overs with a loss of just one wicket as Travis Head finished unbeaten on 34 and captain Mitchell Marsh struck the winning boundary to be 18 not out.
“I thought it was a great performance from the bowling team,” Australia captain Marsh said after win. “Swing was around and all-round a professional performance. It’s really important and great to qualify for the super eights. We will manage as many as we can over the next few days.”
“If you look at his career over the last 4-5 years, he’s probably our most important player,” Marsh said on Zampa. “He loves the pressure and he is bowling well at the moment and we are lucky to have him.”
Put in to bat in breezy, drizzly conditions, Namibia were first strangled by the 2021 champions’ efficiency with their new-ball bowlers and some safe catching.
Zampa then took over, the leg-spinner ripping through the lower half of the Africans’ batting line-up.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHis fourth wicket came off the last ball of his four-over spell when he bowled Bernard Scholtz for a duck to become the first Australian man to reach the milestone of 100 T20 International wickets.
“It sounds fine, we qualify for the Super 8s, that’s a nice feeling. Enjoying bowling, being encouraged to take wickets by the captain, just trying to do my thing mate. We are happy (to qualify), first step in trying to take the trophy home, but long way to go,” player of the match Zampa said.
With AFP inputs