END OF OVER:20 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | NAM: 141/8 (8 runs required, RR: 7.05)
- Ruben Trumpelmann25 (24b)
- Bernard Scholtz1 (1b)
- Muhammad Waseem2-0-16-1
- Zahoor Khan4-0-20-2
10.31 pm David Wiese is beyond devastated in the Namibia dugout. The last two overs by Basil Hameed and CP Rizwan in the first innings - three sixes were hit in the last eight balls - got UAE up to a total that was just enough. Namibia meanwhile could only manage 12 runs off their last 12 balls in the chase having got the equation down to 20 off 12 balls, and that too with UAE forced to bring an extra fielder into the ring for the final over after taking too long to bowl their overs. UAE used a player to bowl the final over who had bowled a total of 3.4 overs in T20Is coming into his 20th T20I today. But Waseem somehow conceded just six runs with his medium pace in the final over to get UAE across the line. At the same time, Namibia are KO'd and Netherlands' tournament continues.
Muhammad Waseem is named Player of the Match not only for his half-century in the first innings but for his unlikely death bowling.
Ajay Dhanak: "Don't forget the excellent penultimate over from Zahoor. He came in after the expensive over and against momentum, gave just 5 of his 6 legal deliveries. The 14 run cushion is a lot, ask Arshdeep."
Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus: "I thought we did well in patches with the ball to keep them to under 150, but I think it was much higher than par. All in all, quite disappointing to let them get away with a few cheap soft balls in between but I thought the fielding and bowling stuck together quite nicely. [Asked how it feels to beat Sri Lanka on day one but not qualify for the Super 12s] That's the art of tournament cricket, the momentum swings that happen. Often the momentum swings aren't in your control and you need to as a professional, react well. After the high of the first game, the momentum swung against us and we couldn't quite get over the line and play well enough cricket for the next two games to get through. [On Wiese] He's one of those experienced guys that is a matchwinner. He plays all around the world and lots of the guys in the team have learned a lot from him. He showed once again today that he's world-class, taking it close out of nowhere. That was sort of the trend of the last two games, really being out of it and showing what we are about, which is a well-coached unit and a bunch of guys that stick together quite nicely. But as I said, I don't think we played enough to get through."
UAE captain CP Rizwan: "First of all, I would like to thank almighty Allah. It is a great moment for UAE Cricket, first ever victory in a World Cup. So I'm really grateful. I would first of all like to thank our coach, Robin [Singh] sir, and our management who kept belief in us. We were doing it in patches but it was just a matter of time. Today all departments clicked so I'm really happy for the win. [On bowling Waseem at the end] It was instinctive decision because he used to bowl a lot of death bowling in our domestic cricket. I thought since there was a little dew, fast bowler or medium pacer can do the job. So I backed my instinct and he did the job. [On the impact of this win in the UAE] It will build momentum going forward for UAE Cricket. We want to grow on this and show world cricket that we are here not just to compete but to make an impact."
Well what a final day of Group A. Sri Lanka storm to the top of the group while Netherlands slip into the Super 12s through the back door after UAE does them a huge favor by knocking off Namibia. It means that Sri Lanka go into Super 12s Group 1 with Afghanistan, Australia, England, New Zealand and a team TBD from Group B. Meanwhile Netherlands will be paired in Group 2 with Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa and a team TBD from Group B.
What could be in store for the final day of Group B at Hobart? Come back and join us tomorrow to find out as Scotland plays Zimbabwe and Ireland takes on West Indies with all four teams still in with a shot to advance to the Super 12s. That's it for today's live coverage. On behalf of my commentary partner Srinidhi Ramanujam, I'm Peter Della Penna. Take care!