Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 4 Runs | NAM: 98/9 (63 runs required, RR: 4.90)

  • Ruben Trumpelmann12 (9b)
  • Bernard Scholtz6 (11b)
  • Karim Janat2-0-11-0
  • Naveen-ul-Haq4-0-26-3

That's all from this game but I am sure, like all of us, Afghanistan too will be keeping an eye on India vs New Zealand in Dubai. Let's go there.

Mohammad Nabi: The boys have a good morale. Our plan is normally to bat first but mentally we are ready to chase as well. In the meetings, we tell both openers to go and play their game. The way they are playing for last ten years. We always depend on spin, but we have good seamers too. They are quality bowlers as Hamid showed today. Last night Asghar told me that tomorrow it might be my last game. It's his decision. He has played for 16 years, captained for 6-7 years, and has won a lot of games for Afghanistan. He has won the most games for a captain in the world. [On if he asked him to change his mind] He had already decided.

Gerhard Erasmus: We knew it would be a level up from the previous games. Afghanistan got away with the bat and a few partnerships stretched the total. I don't think the pitch changed too much. To chase 160, you need to bat well. It was quality of their attack and their cricketers, even with Mujeeb not playing, it showed today. We are going to take this as a stepping stone for the future.

Mujtaba: "People get so caught up in NRR scenarios that they fail to see the points are the first separator"

ashish ranjan: "Never retire in between a tournament. It does not do anything good for the team environment. But if a player is taking such a decision, you can't help but think that there is something going wrong within the board and player or something similar."

DavidS: "I think Afghanistan's NRR is being overstated. NZ and India could well thrash both Namibia and Scotland."

Naveen-ul-Haq is the Player of the Match. He dedicates the award to Asghar Afghan. "I made my debut under his captaincy, so I want to dedicate it to him," Naveen says.

"Naveen showed his talent today," Asghar adds.

"I was watching the first innings carefully, on how to bowl with the new ball," Naveen resumes. "It's special to bowl in front of the Afghanistan fans. I think Asghar has been the best captain Afghanistan has ever produced. We will be missing him a lot."

Asghar thanks his fans for all the support they have given him throughout his career and asks them to continue their support throughout the tournament.

5.25pm A thumping 62-run win for Afghanistan. That will boost their net run rate further. They were without Mujeeb and 160 wasn't a particularly daunting total but Naeevn-ul-Haq's variations and Hamid Hassan's pace didn't allow Namibia to go anywhere. Both ended with three wickets each. Asghar Afghan, the most successful captain in T20I cricket, ends his career with a win too. Afghanistan though will be worried about Gurbaz, who injured his right arm while going for a catch.

19.6
1
Karim Janat to Trumpelmann, 1 run, fuller outside off, slogs it towards deep midwicket for one
19.5
1
Karim Janat to Scholtz, 1 run, a slower one outside off, cuts it past the point fielder but only a single
19.4
0
Karim Janat to Scholtz, no run, a bouncer outside off, Scholtz was looking to pull but misses
19.3
1
Karim Janat to Trumpelmann, 1 run, fuller around off, hits it towards long-on. Trumpelmann was looking for the second but will have to be satisfied with one only
19.2
1
Karim Janat to Scholtz, 1 run, fuller on the stumps, backs away and hits it towards long-on
19.1
0
Karim Janat to Scholtz, no run, length outside off, slashes it towards backward point

Karim Janat is back

END OF OVER:
19 | 9 Runs | NAM: 94/9 (67 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 4.94, RRR: 67.00)

  • Ruben Trumpelmann10 (7b)
  • Bernard Scholtz4 (7b)
  • Naveen-ul-Haq4-0-26-3
  • Gulbadin Naib4-1-19-2

Muaz: "How will this run rate affect/effect India and New Zealand. Seems like they will both be kicked out" -- Think more than the NRR what matters the most for Afghanistan is how they do against New Zealand and India

18.6
0
Naveen-ul-Haq to Trumpelmann, no run, a slower length ball, goes for the pull but too early into the shot. Misses
18.5
0
Naveen-ul-Haq to Trumpelmann, no run, a slower bouncer, waits for it and pulls it towards deep square leg. Another single declined

Mohammed Mujeeb: "Mujeeb for Karim and Hashmatullah for Asghar in the next match. Rashid at No. 8 is enough batting if they perform to their potential and Naveen "

18.4
0
Naveen-ul-Haq to Trumpelmann, no run, a length ball outside off, hits it flat towards long-off and refuses the single

Shah Safeer: "@Hemant don't you think Asghar should have waited a little long to announce his retirement from cricket? Can they take a replacement for him from the reserves? " --- He shouldn't have but then I don't know the reason behind his decision. Also, I am not sure if Afghanistan can ask for a replacement

18.3
4
Naveen-ul-Haq to Trumpelmann, FOUR, goes for the yorker but Trumpelmann jams it into the ground and it bounces over the bowler's head. Four more
18.2
4
Naveen-ul-Haq to Trumpelmann, FOUR, fuller outside off, swings across and sends it towards the deep midwicket boundary
18.1
1
Naveen-ul-Haq to Scholtz, 1 run, length ball around off, backs away and steers it past point

Ganesh Tiwari: "Why was Mujeeb dropped btw?" --- He is injured

END OF OVER:
18 | 5 Runs | NAM: 85/9 (76 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 4.72, RRR: 38.00)

  • Bernard Scholtz3 (6b)
  • Ruben Trumpelmann2 (2b)
  • Gulbadin Naib4-1-19-2
  • Hamid Hassan4-0-9-3
17.6
1
Gulbadin Naib to Scholtz, 1 run, length ball in the line of the stumps, punched towards long-off
17.5
2
Gulbadin Naib to Scholtz, 2 runs, another slower length ball, hits it past extra cover for a couple
17.4
0
Gulbadin Naib to Scholtz, no run, a back-of-the-hand slower one. On a length outside off. Pushed towards backward point
17.3
0
Gulbadin Naib to Scholtz, no run, a slower length ball outside off, slapped towards extra cover
17.2
0
Gulbadin Naib to Scholtz, no run, a loopy, slow full toss outside off, pushes at it but extra cover comes in the way
17.1
1
Gulbadin Naib to Trumpelmann, 1 run, a slower length ball, comes down the ground and slaps it towards deep midwicket
17.1
1w
Gulbadin Naib to Trumpelmann, 1 wide, short of length on the leg stump, Trumpelmann ducks under

In an ideal world, I would drop Karim Janat for the next match, bring a fit Mujeeb in and ask Asghar to postpone his retirement. But we don't live in an ideal world. Anyway, here's Naib

END OF OVER:
17 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | NAM: 80/9 (81 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 4.70, RRR: 27.00)

  • Bernard Scholtz0 (1b)
  • Ruben Trumpelmann1 (1b)
  • Hamid Hassan4-0-9-3
  • Gulbadin Naib3-1-14-2
16.6
0
Hamid Hassan to Scholtz, no run, length ball outside off, pushes at it and gets beaten

Bernard Scholtz is the last man in

16.5
W
Hamid Hassan to Wiese, OUT, another yorker, another wicket. Hassan has added another dimension to this Afghanistan attack. This one tails in, Wiese looks to get his bat on it but all he manages an inside edge that clatters into the stumps

D Wiese b Hamid Hassan 26 (46m 30b 2x4 0x6) SR: 86.66

16.4
1
Hamid Hassan to Trumpelmann, 1 run, fuller around off, hits it towards long-off. Along the ground
16.3
1
Hamid Hassan to Wiese, 1 run, Wiese finally connects the pull but the ball hurries onto him and lands near midwicket region
16.2
0
Hamid Hassan to Wiese, no run, another length ball, this time with pace on. Wiese is late on the pull this time and is once again hit on the leg

Namibia 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st2CG WilliamsM van Lingen
2nd14M van LingenJN Loftie-Eaton
3rd13MG ErasmusJN Loftie-Eaton
4th7MG ErasmusZE Green
5th20D WieseMG Erasmus
6th0D WieseJJ Smit
7th13D WieseJN Frylinck
8th8D WieseHN Ya France
9th3D WieseR Trumpelmann
10th18BM ScholtzR Trumpelmann

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

First Round Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
SL33063.754
NAM3214-0.523
IRE3122-0.853
NED3030-2.46
First Round Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
SCOT33060.775
BAN32141.733
OMA3122-0.025
PNG3030-2.655
Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
ENG54182.464
AUS54181.216
SA54180.739
SL5234-0.269
WI5142-1.641
BAN5050-2.383
Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
PAK550101.583
NZ54181.162
IND53261.747
AFG52341.053
NAM5142-1.89
SCOT5050-3.543