Australia’s wicket keeper Matthew Wade, second from right, celebrates the wicket of Namibia’s Zane Green, centre left, who was trapped LBW, during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan).
Adam Zampa hit a milestone as Australia reached the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup with a resounding nine-wicket thrashing of Namibia on Tuesday.
Leg-spinner Zampa took 4-12 to reach a century of wickets in the shortest format, as Namibia were bowled out for just 72 in 17 overs in Antigua.
Australia needed just 34 balls to surpass that total, with Travis Head’s unbeaten 34 from 17 deliveries propelling them to a comprehensive win.
David Warner (20) was the only Australian to lose his wicket, with captain Mitchell Marsh (18 not out) hitting the winning runs.
Australia are now top of Group B ahead of facing surprise package Scotland on Sunday.
Tuesday’s other match, between Sri Lanka and Nepal, was called off due to rain without a ball having been bowled.
The abandonment of that match in Florida means that Sri Lanka’s hopes of qualifying for the next round are all but over.
Sri Lanka are bottom of Group D with just one match left to play, against the Netherlands on Monday.
Data Debrief: Zampa makes history
Zampa is the first Australian to reach the century landmark for wickets in T20Is, while his 12 runs conceded against Namibia is the joint-lowest total of any player for Australia from a full four overs in a T20 World Cup match.
Gerhard Erasmus was the only player to impress for Namibia. He scored 36 runs, 50 per cent of his team’s total.
That is the highest proportion of any batter in a Namibia T20 World Cup innings.
