They overcame a slight slump to win convincingly, completely knocking out their top-seeded team and now dispatching a lower-seeded team with ease. Australia can lay claim to having had the calmest approach so far in the T20 World Cup 2024, a marked contrast to staying on the edge as they have done in recent international events.
Things can change, of course, come the Super Eight but Australia are a well-rounded side, obviously, with all the bases covered. Pat Cummins was able to close out the first game; there was no need to push a painful Mitchell Starc in this one. Others can rest against Scotland ahead of the next stage, which features three games in six days for all the teams who qualify.
Namibia was not expected to be a roadblock, but the tournament has done the unexpected more than once. This, however, was not going to be the night for anything to be added to that list. Australia’s strong bowling was relentless; Adam Zampa helped himself to the middle and lower levels; The shooting was brilliant and the chase brutal.
Zampa, who became the first Australian male player to score 100 T20I wickets, took home the man of the match award – his second in two matches – as well as his captaincy. As in the ODI World Cup, he has so far served as the best lone spinner, supported by Glenn Maxwell’s players.
“If you look at his career, especially over the last five years, he’s probably our most important player,” Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said in his post-match speech. “He likes the big moment, he likes the pressure, and that comes with experience. He’s skating well at the moment, so we’re lucky to have him.”
It took 24 minutes and less than six overs to score. The run rate didn’t matter, or benefit, Australia (whether they notice England in a few days is another thing entirely) but they were in no mood to hang around. Maybe they can squeeze in one of Antigua’s 365 beaches before jumping into St Lucia.
“I think the back of your head is turning today, that’s how the day should go,” said Josh Hazlewood. “And it’s one thing to think that, it’s another thing to actually go out and do it. So, it was up to us to set the tone as a bowling team and have 3 for 16 [15], 5 for 20-odd really kind of set that tone. Then obviously we have the freedom with the bat to chase the low scores as quickly as possible… but yeah, it’s good to win like that.”
Gerhard Erasmus, the captain of Namibia who sweated 17 balls to get out of the place, did not shy away from this result and admitted that his team did not play well in the whole tournament, which started with winning the Super Over against Namibia and then followed. loss to Scotland. However, he hopes that his players will still benefit from the experience.
“I think these big games are always gold dust in the way that you get a physical run with the best in the world,” he said. “You’re used to dealing with different speeds of the ball, different skills of the highest quality, the highest consistency and whether it’s a very close game or even a very long loss, it’s still gold dust that you need to try your best. You always take that and everything you can because they don’t come often. So -well hopefully the other guys can do that tonight, even though it was a bit of a run.
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