(ICC) – Page 166 – Newswire Pakistan

October 20, 2021October 21, 2021

History made for Namibia with Netherlands success

Dubai, October 20, 2021 (PPI-OT):History was made at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi as Namibia recorded a first-ever win at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and skipper Gerhard Erasmus was quick to explain just how much it meant to the side.

Qualifying for this event for the first time, Namibia fell to a heavy defeat against Sri Lanka in the opener, and looked to be in similar trouble here when Pieter Seelaar bowled a wicket maiden to reduce them to 53 for 3 while chasing a target of 165.

But that was when David Wiese joined Erasmus in the middle and the pair added 93 for the fourth wicket.

While Erasmus was not able to see them all the way home, Wiese and JJ Smit got Namibia over the line, and the skipper could barely contain his delight.

He said: “We run quite a tight ship in a small cricketing nation, these guys put their hearts on the line, from the coaching staff, the management and the administration set-up, to a small bunch of players, so this is a bit of a payback for them and well done to the players.

“It’s a special moment in Cricket Namibia’s history, first win on the World Cup stage. The Dutch have had the better of us in the past couple of years. We had to step up on the day, at the halfway mark it was a pretty tough chase but luckily David batted really well.

“It was a decent surface, some of the bowlers bowled particularly well to the dimensions of the field. We’ve been known to be a side to bowl in those clever ways and we did well to an extent; although I do think both sides didn’t quite nail it with the ball and in the field particularly well.”

Namibia did enough however, holding the Netherlands to 164 for four when at one point it seemed that they might get 15-20 more runs.

But it was with the ball that the game got away from the Dutch, with skipper Seelaar admitting that he may have made different decisions when it came to his bowling selections if he had the opportunity once again – taking himself out of the attack for six overs after bowling a wicket maiden.

He said: “Namibia bowled well but not entirely great and we were worse. In hindsight, obviously, you make choices and in hindsight you see whether they were right or wrong and we went for a couple of chances that didn’t go well. You go back and look at those decisions. It’s very tough.

“If Ireland beat Sri Lanka then we’re not completely out of it. We have to keep hope but otherwise we have to sign off with a good performance against Sri Lanka because we haven’t been quite good enough.”

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October 20, 2021October 21, 2021

Wiese makes the most of second crack at international cricket

Dubai, October 20, 2021 (PPI-OT):When David Wiese was given a second opportunity to play international cricket, he knew he would be stupid not to take it.

Namibia gave the veteran all-rounder a path out of international exile and he repaid their faith in spades to set up their first-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup victory against the Netherlands in Abu Dhabi.

While the Eagles are making their debut at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, Wiese was part of the last edition as a member of the South Africa team that fell just short of the semi-finals.

Since then, he has become a man in demand in franchise cricket and one of the standout performers in the shortest format of the game.

With the dissolution of the Kolpak rule, the opportunity of representing Namibia, the country of his father’s birth, presented itself. Wiese leapt at the chance.

He said: “I never thought I’d get the opportunity to play international cricket again and when that opportunity came around… you’re going to be stupid not to take it.”

At the age of 36, he became just the third player to appear at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for two separate countries following in the footsteps of Dirk Nannes (Netherlands and Australia) and Roelof van der Merwe (South Africa and Netherlands) when he represented Namibia against Sri Lanka earlier this week.

The question then became whether Wiese could provide the sort of match-winning performances for which he was known? Against the Netherlands he did just that, producing arguably his best knock in international cricket.

Coming in with Namibia 52 for three and needing another 113 runs at more than ten an over, the odds were stacked against him.

But on his franchise journey, Wiese has travelled the world, including plenty of experience of conditions in the UAE.

He explained: “It’s a wicket where you need to take your time to get in to get used to the pace. It skids a little more. It’s a bit more difficult to start off quickly, so you have just got to take a bit of that pressure and give yourself that time.

“You know the ball flies over here, there’s always a wind pushing towards the boundaries so once you take your time and get in, you can always catch up towards the end.”

Wiese took that approach literally, blocking out Pieter Seelaar’s first four balls to him, but by the next over he was lifting fellow former South Africa star Van der Merwe for a huge six.

Colin Ackermann suffered the same fate with two more sixes in the 11th over. From what looked like a comfortable Dutch win, suddenly Namibia were in control.

Wiese brought up his half-century with another maximum, this time off the returning Seelaar, doing so in just 29 balls.

By that stage, the win was effectively in the bag. Namibia had made history and it was their World Cup veteran who had won it for them.

He said: “It means a lot to me. A World Cup on the international stage is special and to put in a big performance for Namibia, I’m glad to get this opportunity to play international cricket.”

The next challenge is to back it up against Ireland. Do that and a place in the Super 12s could be the reward. Five years after his Proteas experience, Wiese is making the most of his second chance.

October 20, 2021October 21, 2021

Wiese heroics power Namibia past the Netherlands

Dubai, October 20, 2021 (PPI-OT):David Wiese produced a stunning knock as Namibia dug themselves out of a precarious position to beat the Netherlands by six wickets and record their first victory of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

Following the defeat to Sri Lanka first up, the debutants looked in all sorts of trouble chasing the Netherlands’ 164 for four when they slipped to 52 for 3 after nine overs.

But it was then that Wiese and skipper Gerhard Erasmus came together, and they proceeded to turn the match on its head.

Wiese hit three sixes as Namibia added 36 in the next three overs to shift the momentum back their way.

And he just kept going, eventually finishing on 66 not out from just 40 balls to carry his side to victory.

Erasmus could not quite complete the job, falling caught behind with 20 still to get, but his partnership of 93 with Wiese swung the game.

The win keeps Namibia’s hopes of reaching the Super 12 alive, while the Netherlands now need to beat Sri Lanka in their final match to have any chance of making it through.

Max O’Dowd had earlier made history as the first player from the Netherlands to score back-to-back half-centuries at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but unlike in the Ireland defeat, this time he was ably supported.

First it was Stephan Myburgh, whose 17 from 16 deliveries allowed the opening pair to add 42 at a good rate. And after Myburgh and Roelof van der Merwe had fallen, Colin Ackermann joined O’Dowd, with the duo putting on 82 for the third wicket before Ackermann holed out off the bowling of Jan Frylinck, who had also done for Myburgh.

O’Dowd looked in prime form with the bat, but lived dangerously with his running, twice taking on singles that would have seen him a mile short in case of direct hits. Neither did though, and he brought up his half-century in style by lifting the ball over extra cover for four.

By the time Ackermann departed, the Dutch had reached 137 for three, setting the platform for Scott Edwards to finish with a flourish, cracking 21 off 11 deliveries and taking up the charge from O’Dowd, who was run out in the final over for 70, sacrificing himself for his teammate to get back on strike.

The Dutch total looked formidable, even as Zane Green struck successive boundaries off Ackermann’s first over, the second of the reply.

He played on to his stumps off the bowling of Fred Klaassen for 11 and then the spinners looked to have made the difference as Ackermann bowled Craig Williams and Pieter Seelaar did the same to dismiss Stephan Baard.

The Dutch skipper completed a wicket maiden in the ninth over, but from there it was the Wiese show.

He hit straight and long, whether it was off spinners or quicks, with Klaassen the only bowler to keep the chase in check.

The problem was, Klaassen could not bowl every over, and the rest of the Dutch attack had no answer to Wiese, who hit five sixes in total before JJ Smit finished the job with 14 off eight balls.

Scores in Brief

Namibia beat Netherlands at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi by six wickets

Netherlands 164/4, in 20 overs (Max O’Dowd 70, Colin Ackermann 35; Jan Frylicnk 2/36, David Wiese 1/32)

Namibia 166/4, in 19 overs (David Wiese 66 not out, Gerhard Erasmus 32; Pieter Seelaar 1/8, Fred Klaassen 1/14)

Player of the Match: David Wiese (Namibia)

October 20, 2021October 21, 2021

Bangladesh aiming to hit ‘full throttle’ against Papua New Guinea

Dubai, October 20, 2021 (PPI-OT):Bangladesh will look to put all three phases of the game together and hit ‘full throttle’ when they face Papua New Guinea with a place in the Super 12 on the line, according to batting coach Ashwell Prince.

Bangladesh suffered a surprise six-run defeat to Scotland in their opening match at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 but overcame a wobble to rebound with a 26-run triumph over Oman.

Victory over PNG on Thursday would move them to four points and if Scotland beat Oman later the same day, then the Tigers would qualify for the Super 12 as runners-up in Group B and move into Group 1 as team B2.

However, if Bangladesh and Oman both win then three teams would be tied on four points, with net run-rate deciding who advances to the next stage.

And while Prince is keen to put as much pressure on the other teams as possible, he wants his side to firstly focus on producing a complete performance.

“We’re not at full throttle yet,” said former South Africa international Prince. “We fancied ourselves in the first game to chase 140 against Scotland.

“They obviously came back well after being 53 for six, posted a competitive score and we were disappointed not to get that.

“We bounced back nicely yesterday (against Oman). It was a tough match. I think it was a lot of pressure in terms of playing against the home team and obviously going out of the competition if we lost the game.

“That was a big result for us but even so, there are still parts of our performance that we felt we could have done better at. Hopefully we will improve even tomorrow as we go into the final game.

“There is not much margin of difference in the run-rates of Scotland, Oman and Bangladesh but we have the equation within us, within the team and the players know exactly what to do.

“Unfortunately, we play the first game. We will have to do our bit and try and apply the pressure on to Scotland and Oman. But we have a fair idea of what we need to do.”

Bangladesh entered the tournament sixth in the MRF Tyres Men’s T20I Team Rankings and favourites to qualify for the Super 12 from Group B but Prince says nerves have played a part in the Tigers not producing their best cricket yet.

“Definitely in the first two fixtures there would have been nerves around,” he added. “Obviously we try and speak to the guys before the game to prepare them as much as possible.

“Bangladesh coming into this group as the Test-playing nation, you sort of have a target on your back, with the other teams coming after you. We realise that.

“Obviously Scotland put in a disciplined bowling and fielding performance but fortunately yesterday (against Oman) we got things going, and I think we’re getting stronger at the moment.”

Despite defeats to Oman and Scotland so far, Papua New Guinea can still mathematically qualify for the next stage if they beat Bangladesh and Oman lose, although there would also need to be a huge turnaround in net run-rate.

PNG’s focus is simply on earning an historic win on their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup debut and experienced batter Charles Amini claims they are taking inspiration from Scotland.

“It’s probably the biggest opportunity, I guess, as far as the games that we’ve had so far,” he said. “This will be our first test as a team against one of the best T20 teams going.

“Although they lost their first game, they’re still a good team, and we’re really looking forward to this opportunity.

“We’re really proud of our efforts of making a World Cup. This is our first time at a World Cup and we’ve lost the first two games, but we still have a chance.

“Scotland caused an upset in the first game and we’re pretty sure that we can also do the same thing.

“It will be history in the making to win at least a game in the World Cup. So that would be the first thing – whatever happens after that is not in our control.

“If there’s an opportunity in us qualifying for the next stage with the net run rate, we’ll obviously try to work towards that and winning in that way but we’re just looking forward to trying to get a win for PNG.”

October 20, 2021October 21, 2021

Hasaranga steps up with the bat to inspire Sri Lanka

Dubai, October 20, 2021 (PPI-OT):Mickey Arthur warned the rest of the field that if Sri Lanka can start to fire with the bat, they will become one of the most dangerous teams at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

Against Ireland, he was proven right.

Arthur took over as Sri Lanka head coach in December 2020 and their total in Abu Dhabi was the highest T20 score he has seen his batters produce during his tenure.

Indeed, their 171 for seven was Sri Lanka’s joint-highest score since they hit 182 against Pakistan in 2019, 21 matches ago. They also scored 171 against West Indies in March 2020.

It was not without a scare against an upbeat Ireland, who arrived full of swagger after they ran through Netherlands for the concession of just 106 runs in their opening game, thanks in large part to four wickets in four balls from Curtis Campher.

Opener Kusal Perera lasted just two balls before he was outfoxed by off-spinner Paul Stirling and looped one up to Gareth Delany at cover, while Dinesh Chandimal and Avishka Fernando also fell early, leaving Sri Lanka on eight for three after just ten balls to raise more questions about their top order.

Arthur needed a solution and he made a bold strategic call by moving big-hitting all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga up to No.5 to partner surviving opener Pathum Nissanka – and it could hardly have worked out better.

Hasaranga had only scored 200 runs in 22 previous T20I innings but his ability to hit it a long way and transform an innings, which is exactly what he did, has long been known.

He showed off his ability with a punched four through the covers and then terrorised Simi Singh by whacking four successive balls to the boundary to change the mood at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

With a read of the wicket, the 24-year-old began to relax and his massive six over long on backed up his claim after that match that he sees himself as a batting all-rounder.

Considering he already has 39 wickets from 27 T20I matches and entered the tournament second in the MRF Tyres Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings, that is some statement and hints at his potential.

Several more boundaries followed as Hasaranga not only beat his previous T20I best of 44 but obliterated it. He was eventually dismissed for 71 off 47 balls, including 11 boundaries.

“When I got to the crease, we were eight for three but I rotated the first few balls, then I accelerated,” he said. As Ireland’s bowlers will testify, he left them for dust.

It appears Arthur might have found a new batting star but captain Dasun Shanaka suggested the move to promote Hasaranga has been in the pipeline for some time.

“Of course it was a concern at eight for three, but they put on an awesome partnership. Hasaranga at five is a plan we had coming in at the World Cup and it worked well for us.”

Mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana called Hasaranga ‘Sri Lanka’s trump card’ and Netherlands, who face the Lions on Friday, will be shuffling their own hand to come up with a solution.

Hasaranga was not the only Sri Lankan batter to deliver and credit must also go to opener Nissanka, who set a new T20I best with a measured 47-ball 61.

He allowed Hasaranga to be the aggressor but delivered several telling blows of his own, while captain Shanaka found his range with an unbeaten 21 from 11 balls.

Sri Lanka’s talent with the ball has long been known and Shanaka was again quick to highlight his seamers.

But this was glimpse into what might be possible if both bat and ball click and the teams waiting in the Super 12s will have taken note.

October 20, 2021October 21, 2021

Balbirnie hails star Ireland bowler Little ahead of crunch Namibia game

Dubai, October 20, 2021 (PPI-OT):Captain Andrew Balbirnie believes bowler Josh Little could hold the key to Ireland’s chances of reaching the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12s after he starred against Sri Lanka.

Little returned career-best figures of four for 23 in Abu Dhabi, which featured two wickets in his first over, but could not prevent Sri Lanka winning by 70 runs to secure their own safe passage to the next round.

The 21-year-old left-armer might have been on the losing side here but his performance was impressive, taking his 2021 T20I wicket tally to 12 from nine matches.

He delivered two brilliant balls to clean bowl both Dinesh Chandimal and Avishka Fernando with back-to-back deliveries as Sri Lanka stumbled to eight for three, and later removed Pathum Nissanka for 61 and Bhanuka Rajapaksa for just one.

In between, Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga put on a partnership of 123 for the fourth wicket to rebuild Sri Lanka’s innings and they eventually made 171 for seven.

The Lions then bowled Ireland out for 101 but Balbirnie was quick to praise Little after the match.

“I was excited at eight for three,” he said. “Josh Little bowled to his plans and he has been a real find for us this year, he has bowled beautifully for us up top and we put them in real trouble.

“But the way their guys came out and played was really impressive and took the innings away from us in the middle. But I thought we came back quite well.

“Josh is a huge asset. He has been a force in ODI cricket this year and really come to the fore. He showed off those new-ball skills and attacked the stumps. On these wickets, he comes into his own.”

Balbirnie admits Ireland lost control of the match when Hasaranga was batting but praised his side for the way they fought back to take four wickets in the last five overs.

It was a different story with the bat, however, as openers Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien fell cheaply to leave them in trouble early.

Balbirnie played well to score 41 from 39 balls but when Curtis Campher was dismissed for 24, Ireland lost regular wickets and succumbed to defeat.

They now face a crucial game against Namibia. Both teams have lost to Sri Lanka and beaten Netherlands so far and the winner of Friday’s clash will progress to the Super 12s.

“We are excited, they are the games you want to play in when you grow up watching cricket and see the knock-out games. They are the ones we want to be part of, so we will rest up and be ready,” Balbirnie added.

“We started the week really well and put in some really good performances against the Dutch. We knew if we lost that game, we would be playing catch up.

“This is a good Sri Lanka team, I thought they batted and bowled really well. We started well with the ball and finished well with the ball but we could not really get it going with the bat.

“We have a massive game on Friday now and it is all to play for.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka wants to see more from his side as they prepare to face Netherlands in their final Group A game before attacking the Super 12s.

“Of course it was a concern at eight for three, but Hasaranga and Nissanka put on an awesome partnership,” he said.

“Hasaranga at five is a plan we had coming in at the World Cup and it worked well for us. We have to look at our top-order batting again. Other areas are okay, though fielding has been poor as well.”