Twitter Reactions: New Zealand keep qualification fate in own hands with comprehensive win
They face Afghanistan on November 7 in a virtual knockout.
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New Zealand registered a comprehensive 52-run win against Namibia in Sharjah to go past Afghanistan in the points tally, with their qualification fate still being in their own hands. New Zealand will go through if they manage to beat Afghanistan on November 7, but will be knocked out if they can’t.
Against Namibia, they had a comfortable outing, and even though Gerhard Erasmus and Co. managed to throw them under the pump for a brief while, the inexperience, inability to handle pressure and a no-show from batters meant Namibia went down convincingly.
New Zealand tied after decent start
After being put in to bat, Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell provided their team a lukewarm start, adding 30 amongst them.
Guptill, coming after a staggering 93 off 56 against Scotland, made a good start, smacking Bernard Scholtz for a six down the ground before driving Ruben Trumpelmann through mid-off for four, but found the fielder at the same position off David Wiese for a run-a-ball 18 inside the powerplay as Namibia pacers continued to take pace off the ball and made New Zealand struggle on a sluggish track.
Mitchell was undone immediately after the powerplay by Scholtz before Namibia tightened the noose around them. New Zealand could score only a single boundary between overs 6-10, scoring runs even less than a ball, with Devon Conway and Kane Williamson unable to find momentum.
The duo added 38 amongst them but ate up 35 deliveries, and when Erasmus made Williamson (28 off 25) play him on to his stumps, New Zealand were in danger of setting Namibia an undercooked total.
Neesham, Phillips fillip
Immediately after Williamson’s fall, Devon Conway was run out for 17, increasing the troubles for his team. All New Zealand scored in the 10-over period after powerplay was 53 runs before a 76-run Neesham-Phillips stand off merely 36 balls took them to a competitive 163/5.
Namibia were guilty of missing their lengths and succumbing under pressure after being taken on, as both Neesham and Phillips flourishingly compensated for the middle-over lethargy. The duo cracked five sixes and two fours amongst each other in the last four overs, which produced 67. The duo walked back undefeated – Neesham 35 off 23, while Phillips 39 off 21.
The nervousness was clear to be seen when JJ Smit ended up delivering four wides in the last over, while David Wiese (1/40) had conceded 21 runs in the 18th over. Scholtz was impressive, returning with figures of 1/15 in three overs, while skipper Erasmus bowled his quota for 1/22.
Bowlers stifle Namibia
All Namibia could manage in their entire innings were eight fours and three sixes. On a track where run-scoring was not easy, the late counterattack from New Zealand meant their opposition was still chasing above eight-an-over.
But the start was not bad. Namibia made their best start of the tournament so far, 36/0 in the powerplay. After he was hit for five consecutive fours by Matthew Cross against Scotland, Adam Milne was taken on by Michael van Lingen, who smashed him for a four and six in the final over of the powerplay.
However, New Zealand ensured that Namibia were never able to fly off in the chase. If Namibia thought keeping wickets in hand would give them the license to break free, it did not happen, with them losing a wicket in every over from 8-10.
The first success for New Zealand came when Neesham knocked over van Lingen for a run-a-ball 25. In the next over, Mitchell Santner cleaned up his partner Stephen Baard, while Ish Sodhi had Erasmus caught behind cheaply to dent them heavily.
David Wiese and Zane Green stopped the rut with a 31-run stand, but that it took as many deliveries to arrive meant Namibia fell too far behind in the chase. Wiese, who scored a 17-ball 16, was rapped on the pads by Tim Southee, who also got Green (23 off 27) caught at long-on, returning with exceptional figures of 2/15. Trent Boult joined the party too, getting two quick wickets in Loftie-Eaton and Craig Williams as Namibia finished 111/7.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
The improvement of Boult in T20 since 2019 has been phenomenal.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 5, 2021
Tremendous last four overs of ball-striking by Phillips and Nessham does the trick for New Zealand. Namibia were in control for 16 overs, but once the Kiwis got to 163, they were always going to struggle. Stage set for exciting finale to Group 2 in the Super 12s. #T20WorldCup
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 5, 2021
Where is JJ Smit…..
— Niall John O Brien (@niallnobiobrien) November 5, 2021
When did Martin Guptill become a no-look six-hitter. Did it a few times against Scotland and now that one again #T20WorldCup #NZvNAM pic.twitter.com/ghY6sCXtjy
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 5, 2021
52 runs margin is too big, in the context of India's chances of qualification. #NZvsNAM #NZvNAM #Namibia
— 🇮🇳 Abhay Thakur 🇮🇳 (@abhaythakur28) November 5, 2021
MEANWHILE : New Zealand win by 52 runs against Namibia. Another Brilliant victory. Move on points table's 2nd spot. #CricketDiwali2021 #NZvNAM
— Cricket Anand 🏏 (@cricanandha) November 5, 2021
Namibia just couldn't recover from that Last 4 overs in their Bowling innings. They started decently well but the asking rate was a bit too much for them. NZ bowled really well. #T20WorldCup #NZvNAM
— Kartik O 🏏⚽🔗 (@KOCricket528) November 5, 2021
#NZvNAM Namibia played better than #India against #Nz
— Vitamin D (@Mehdisons) November 5, 2021
India ✅
Scotland ✅
Namibia ✅Three consecutive wins for New Zealand.#NZvNAM #KaneWilliamson #NewZealand #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/TggR1rxD2b
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 5, 2021
How can you think Afghanistan can easily beat New Zealand? They are in form after loosing to Pakistan, their bowling on top and they have played extra ordinary Cricket so far 🔥
Sleep well Indians, stop dreaming for Semis 😂#NZvNAM #NZvAfg #INDvsSCO #T20WorldCup
— ♥ (@Shelby_Boyy) November 5, 2021
What was everyone so worried about!? @er_icc #NZvNAM
— Ziggy (@wevegot5years) November 5, 2021
ख़त्म,टाटा , बाय बाय , गया , गुडबाय #NZvNAM
— Prakash Solanki (@mrsolanki_89) November 5, 2021
Indian fans are sadder than Namibia fans (if any) #NZvNAM #T20WorldCup21
— The Cricketist (@dCricketist) November 5, 2021
Friendship ended with #Namibia . Afghanistan is our real friend@rashidkhan_19 just win the match by less margin #NZvNAM
— It's Abhi 아비지트 (@ItsonlyAbhiokay) November 5, 2021
When your team is dependent on other results to march forward, its right to start playing for the pride of the country and respect for the opponents. Virat Kohli should learn this on his birthday. #NZvNAM #INDvsSCO
— Mohit (@mohitkardiya) November 5, 2021
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